Exeter’s stirring comeback to earn a draw at Northampton virtually inevitably featured fireworks from England wing Manny Feyi-Waboso. When he’s match, that’s what he does.
However there was one other Chiefs wing whose energy and tempo was equally eye-catching on the opening weekend of the Prem.
Paul Brown-Bampoe is the much less extensively identified of the harmful double barrels however he’s making his personal ripples. Collectively, the deadly duo sparked Exeter’s resurgence. They ran for a mixed 236m, broke 16 tackles, made eight line-breaks and scored three tries because the Chiefs got here near an unbelievable triumph.
Paul Brown-Bampoe has his dancing footwear on as we speak! 🕺
Some dazzling footwork leaves Saints defenders within the mud.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/E49Q5pJOqz
— Rugby on TNT Sports activities (@rugbyontnt) September 28, 2025
Brown-Bampoe’s progress has not gone unnoticed. Three weeks in the past, Steve Borthwick and Phil Morrow, England’s head of crew efficiency, travelled right down to the southwest to introduce themselves.
Croydon-born Brown-Bampoe’s affect is all of the extra exceptional given the 23-year-old is just in his second season of professional rugby and by no means even thought of it as a possible profession.
“The summer time earlier than I acquired picked up by Chiefs, I used to be interning at an funding financial institution in order that’s in all probability what I’d have executed. It might have been a distinct life, that’s for positive,” he mentioned.
“For the time being, I’m one yr into this profession so I’ve a protracted technique to go development-wise however I’m attempting to be a sponge.
“I’ve set myself a goal of attaining one thing particular this season however that’s staying in my head.
“It’s actually about crew first as a result of the way in which to make people flourish is that if the crew is taking part in nicely and also you’re profitable. That’s how I give it some thought.”
Enjoying on this nation, your ceiling is to play for England or the Lions. I feel he’s definitely acquired the precise attributes that make {that a} risk for him.
And but Brown-Bampoe nonetheless flourished in one of the difficult of debut seasons regardless of Exeter’s struggles. He managed 21 tries in 23 appearances in all competitions and was the membership’s main attempt scorer.
Seven of these may need are available in two video games in opposition to the Cornish Pirates within the Premiership Rugby Cup however he proved he may rating in opposition to anybody. Ask Bordeaux. He went over twice in opposition to the European champions at Sandy Park, the primary of them a length-of-the-field particular person showstopper.
One recreation into the brand new Prem season and he’s already off and operating within the league, scoring the attempt which kick-started the second-half fightback from 33-7 down at Franklin’s Gardens.
At 6ft 3in, 15st 6lbs and with severe velocity off the mark, he has been branded a bodily “freak” by teammate Henry Slade however what impresses Rob Baxter is the work ethic inside. All of the whereas he was navigating his debut Premiership season, he was additionally finishing his Masters in Finance and Funding. It was a formidable balancing act.
So quickly into his sporting profession, some tough edges inevitability stay however Exeter’s director of rugby is having fun with sprucing his diamond.
“He’s nonetheless performed comparatively little rugby. It’s not that way back we introduced him in on a trial interval from Durham College. In the event you suppose how his recreation’s superior and the way rapidly he’s taking part in in huge Premiership video games, in European video games and a number of the issues he’s achieved – it’s fairly unbelievable what he’s managed to do,” mentioned Baxter.
“He has to take an excessive amount of credit score for that. He’s labored exceptionally arduous, he’s very diligent in what he does and the way he prepares. He’s a continuing coach, he’s on the sector on a regular basis, studying and taking in info and attempting to enhance.
“He’s driving his profession fantastically nicely. He has components of his recreation that he’s simply acquired to maintain diligently engaged on however he’s a man who you recognize will do it. These enhancements will occur quickly sufficient.
“He’s a type of guys that I actually hope goes on and achieves every thing he needs within the recreation as a result of he’s acquired the perspective that deserves it.
Sure legal guidelines have made it harder to play that attritional model of rugby that Chiefs have been identified for however I feel we’ve totally embraced, and tailored to, a quick, dynamic recreation now.
“Enjoying on this nation, your ceiling is to play for England or the Lions. I feel he’s definitely acquired the precise attributes that make {that a} risk for him.
“I’d like to suppose we are going to play in a means this season that can create extra alternatives for him than he had final season and if we are able to do this, that’s when issues turn out to be very attention-grabbing for him.
“Us being a crew that’s increased up the league, wanting extra aggressive in every thing we do and profitable extra video games can solely assist gamers’ worldwide ambitions as nicely. They should.
“We now have benefited from that previously and he’s a type of guys we actually wish to profit from it sooner or later.”
Final season Exeter have been frankly terrible, saved solely from the ignominy of backside spot by the unhappy plight of a forlorn Newcastle. The nadir was the 79-17 demolition by Gloucester which led to the axe falling on long-serving coaches Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter. The Chiefs, who host the rebranded Crimson Bulls this weekend, already look a distinct proposition this season.
Brown-Bampoe goes as far as to assert Exeter are real play-off contenders.
“I really do suppose we’re,” he mentioned. “In the direction of the tip of final season we noticed some barely extra constructive performances and we’ve had a complete summer time since to essentially reset and re-evaluate.
“We’ve actually been pushed to our limits – they’ve labored us actually arduous – so I’ve little doubt that our preparation goes to result in one thing actually completely different this season.”
He’s effusive concerning the affect of former England Beneath-20s assault coach Dave Walder who joined Exeter final Might.
“Dave has introduced a brand new life into our assault, progressing it ahead, making it a extremely trendy assault. I’ve beloved studying from him,” he mentioned.
“Sure legal guidelines have made it harder to play that attritional model of rugby that Chiefs have been identified for however I feel we’ve totally embraced, and tailored to, a quick, dynamic recreation now. Which is why I’m loving it right here.”
There are two vital additions but to reach with Wallabies Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau set to pitch up in Devon after the conclusion of the Rugby Championship.
The possibility to play alongside Ikitau, the Brumbies centre, is one Brown-Bampoe can’t look forward to.
“He’s a extremely aggressive ball provider with an important set of fingers on him. I’m simply excited on the prospect of taking part in outdoors him and hopefully getting some balls from him,” he mentioned.
He will likely be a giant draw at Sandy Park this season. Feyi-Waboso as nicely. However preserve a watch out for Brown-Bampoe too. The banker-turned-defence-shredder is field workplace.
“I can’t wait to run round, beat some defenders and hopefully rating some extra tries,” he mentioned.
