Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: Lack of direct communication with Wales or England, reveals Exeter wing

Exeter Wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: No Contact from Wales or England

In a surprising turn of events, Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has revealed that he has had no direct contact with either the Welsh or English rugby teams despite his impressive performances in the Premiership this season.

Feyi-Waboso, who is eligible to represent both countries but was born in Wales and previously trained with the Welsh national squad, expressed his surprise at not receiving any communication from either team.

“Neither of them have spoken to me directly,” said Feyi-Waboso during an interview with Scrum V. “At the moment, it’s all just chatter and I’m not entertaining it.”

The young winger also acknowledged that there are areas of his game that still need improvement before considering international honors.

“I feel like I still have a lot to work on and learn,” he admitted. “Ultimately, it’s up to the coaches whether they decide to call me up or not. While being called up would be a huge privilege for me, I want to ensure that I am ready by improving my skills across various aspects of my game.”

When asked about prioritizing between Wales and England if given the opportunity to represent one country at Under-18 level, Feyi-Waboso reaffirmed his connection to Wales due to being born there.

“Wales is my home country,” he emphasized. “I was born in Wales, and I even speak a bit of Welsh. However, I must acknowledge that the current back three for Wales is filled with talented players like Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, and Louis Rees-Zammit.”

Despite playing for an English club, Feyi-Waboso remains eligible to play for Wales as he has yet to earn his first cap. Conversely, his Exeter teammate Joe Hawkins became ineligible after moving from Ospreys having already won five caps.

The recent change in eligibility criteria now requires players based outside of Wales to have 25 caps before representing their country. This decision was made by the Professional Rugby Board (PRB), which consists of representatives from both the Welsh Rugby Union and professional teams.

Feyi-Waboso’s journey to Exeter began last season after his previous club Wasps faced financial difficulties. Despite the initial challenge of establishing himself within a team boasting world-class names, Feyi-Waboso expressed gratitude towards Exeter as a place with a great culture and supportive environment.

“Exeter is an amazing place,” he said. “There were already several Welsh boys here when I arrived – Christ [Name], Daf [Name], Oli Burrows, and Dan John – so it felt like home. Additionally, being on loan at Taunton provided me with valuable experience while learning from exceptional coaches at Exeter.”

Intriguingly enough, Feyi-Waboso’s decision to join Exeter was also influenced by his pursuit of medical studies at the city’s university. “I’ve always had ambitions of becoming a doctor,” he explained. “The clubs I have played for were chosen partly because they aligned with my educational goals.” Born into a Nigerian family but raised in Llandaff, Cardiff alongside five siblings, Feyi-Waboso embarked on his rugby journey with Rumney RFC before progressing through the Cardiff age-grade system. Moreover, he actively participated in athletics, specializing in hurdles and high jump.

During his time at Cardiff academy while managing both rugby commitments and studies at Bristol’s Clifton College, Feyi-Waboso made a notable appearance against Ospreys during the 2021 Pro14 Rainbow Cup. Despite not securing admission to study medicine at Cardiff University despite achieving excellent grades (A* and two As), Feyi-Waboso remained determined to pursue his medical aspirations. This led him on a path that eventually brought him to Exeter – a club where he continues to thrive as an emerging talent.