Exeter welcome Gloucester to Sandy Park in season opener
Sandy Park will host a high‑profile Premiership curtain-raiser when Exeter Chiefs take on south‑west neighbours Gloucester Rugby on Saturday. The match marks the start of the Gallagher PREM 2026–27 season and brings renewed focus to Exeter after the club reached the Final three months ago.
Exeter go into the game with reasons for cautious optimism: the club have historically enjoyed the upper hand at their home ground, having won 15 of the 20 meetings with Gloucester at Sandy Park. They will also welcome back prop Dafydd Jenkins, who returns from injury to captain the side, while wing Olly Woodburn will make his 200th club appearance.
Gloucester arrive having finished eighth in the table last season and carrying a reputation for set‑piece efficacy — they led the Premiership last season with a 94.7% scrum success rate — and have added back‑row and forward options to their ranks. New recruit Dewi Lake is named captain for the visitors on his debut, while Jac Morgan and Jean Kleyn also start.
- Kick‑off: Sandy Park, local start time for the fixture on 26 September.
- Exeter key returns: Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Olly Woodburn (200th appearance).
- Gloucester strengths: dominant scrum record last season and new signings named in starting XV.
Teams named for the opening fixture
Both sides have published starting XVs and replacements. Exeter’s pack includes Ethan Burger and Jack Yeandle in the front row, with the experienced Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso among the backs. Gloucester’s line‑up brings Jean Kleyn into the engine room and features the pace of Ben Loader in the backline.
| Exeter Chiefs | Gloucester Rugby |
|---|---|
| Ethan Burger | Val Rapava‑Ruskin |
| Jack Yeandle | Dewi Lake (c) |
| Josh Iosefa‑Scott | Afo Fasogbon |
| Dafydd Jenkins (c) | Jean Kleyn |
| Harry Wilson | Arthur Clark |
| Ethan Roots | Freddie Thomas |
| Kane James | Jac Morgan (vc) |
| Greg Fisilau | Will Trenholm |
| Stephen Varney | Caolan Englefield |
| Harvey Skinner | Charlie Atkinson |
| Olly Woodburn | Ben Loader |
Named replacements for Exeter include Louie Gulley, Will Goodrick‑Clarke and Jimmy Roots. Gloucester’s bench features front‑row options Jack Innard and Dian Bleuler and established Premiership campaigners such as Dan Robson and Lewis Ludlow.
“Dafydd Jenkins returns from injury to captain Exeter, while Olly Woodburn makes his 200th club appearance.”
That combination of experience and milestone appearances will be watched closely by local supporters, who expect a competitive opening at Sandy Park. For Exeter, the fixture is an early barometer: the club will want to demonstrate that their late‑season resurgence has staying power as they seek to convert last season’s deep run into consistent Premiership form.
What the match means for Exeter and the city
Beyond the result, the game carries wider local significance. Matches at Sandy Park drive match‑day trade for city pubs, hotels and independent traders near the stadium and keep Exeter prominent on the national rugby calendar. A strong showing from the Chiefs would bolster confidence among supporters and local businesses alike.
For travelling Gloucester fans and neutral observers the contest will be an early chance to judge new signings and test the scrum platform that served Gloucester well last year. For Exeter, maintaining home dominance against a familiar rival remains a priority.
The match will be available to watch in some territories via international streaming services; domestically, supporters should consult club channels for ticketing and viewing information.
Exeter supporters will gather at Sandy Park on Saturday with expectations tempered by the realities of a long season, but with the unmistakable local hope that the Chiefs can begin the campaign with the kind of performance that keeps the city buzzing for weeks to come.
