Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

| image = Immanuel Feyi-Waboso LQ Feb 2024.jpg

| caption = Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in February 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|12|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cardiff, Wales

| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web | url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/immanuel-feyi-waboso | title=Immanuel Feyi-Waboso }}

| weight = {{convert|89|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/player/view/18049 | title=Immanuel Feyi-Waboso }}

| school = Corpus Christi Roman Catholic High School, Cardiff
Clifton College

| university = Aston University
University of Exeter

| position = Wing, Centre

| currentclub = Exeter Chiefs

| years1 = 2021

| clubs1 = Cardiff

| apps1 = 1

| points1 = 0

| years2 = 2022

| clubs2 = Wasps

| apps2 = 2

| points2 = 0

| years3 = 2022–

| clubs3 = Exeter Chiefs

| apps3 = 30

| points3 = 90

| repyears1 = 2024–

| repteam1 = {{ru|ENG|noflag=1}}

| repcaps1 = 10

| reppoints1 = 25

| clubupdate = 27 October 2024

| repupdate = 9 November 2024

}}

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (born 20 December 2002) is a British professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs and England.{{cite web |title=Immanuel Feyi-Waboso |url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/immanuel-feyi-waboso |publisher=Exeter Chiefs |access-date=26 February 2025}}

Early life and education

Feyi-Waboso is one of six siblings, born to parents with Nigerian, English and Jamaican heritage. He was born in Wales and grew up in Llandaff, Cardiff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/immanuel-feyi-waboso|title=Exeter Chiefs Player List|website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk}}

After school at Clifton College, he initially studied at Aston University, then moved to study medicine at Exeter University.{{cite web |last1=Baldock |first1=Andrew |title=Exeter will leave 'gifted' Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to decide own international path |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/rob-baxter-warren-gatland-exeter-wales-steve-borthwick-b2471559.html |work=The Independent |date=31 December 2023 |access-date=17 January 2024}}

Club career

Feyi-Waboso began playing with Rumney RFC, and played for Cardiff Schools at U-11 and U-15 level.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Simon |date=2022-02-15 |title='Special future Wales international' Feyi-Waboso lost to English Premiership |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/special-future-wales-international-lost-23102503 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}

Feyi-Waboso signed for the Cardiff Blues academy ahead of the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.cardiffblues.com/news/cardiff-blues-2020-21-squad-confirmed|title=Cardiff Blues 2020–21 squad confirmed|work=Cardiff Blues|date=18 September 2020|access-date=18 September 2020}} He made his Cardiff Blues debut in Round 1 of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup against {{Rut|Ospreys}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55484328|title=Pro14 Rainbow Cup: Ospreys 36-14 Cardiff Blues|work=BBC Sport|date=24 April 2021|access-date=24 April 2021}} Feyi-Waboso left Cardiff after failing to secure a place in the medical programme at Cardiff University despite strong grades.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Simon |date=2021-10-08 |title=Fears 'special' future Wales international will be lost to England |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fears-special-future-wales-international-21800069 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} He instead took a place at Aston University.

On 14 February 2022, Wasps announced the signing of the centre, from the 2022–2023 season onwards.{{cite web |title=Immanuel Feyi-Waboso Joins Wasps Academy Ahead Of 2022-23 Season |url=https://www.wasps.co.uk/news/immanuel-feyi-waboso-joins-wasps-academy-ahead-of-2022-23-season/ |access-date=14 February 2022 |work=Wasps RFC}} Following Wasps's expulsion from the league due to their administration, Feyi-Waboso was signed by Exeter Chiefs.{{Cite web |title=Chiefs sign young trio from Wasps |url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-sign-young-trio-from-wasps |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk |language=en-gb}} He made his debut that same month in the Premiership Cup against Bath before making his Premiership debut for the club against London Irish.{{cite web |title=Chiefs 25 Bath 22 |url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-25-bath-22#:~:text=Up%2020%2D3%2C%20the%20Chiefs,the%20posts%20from%20lock%20Richards. |publisher=Exeter Chiefs |access-date=5 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Premiership: London Irish 17-14 Exeter Chiefs - Exiles hang on to seal fifth spot |work=BBC Sport |date=6 May 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65458330 |access-date=5 November 2024}}

In April 2024, he set a new record in the Champions Cup having beaten 13 defenders in Chiefs round of 16 fixture against Bath, the most any player has managed in a single Champions Cup fixture since records began for the competition in 2009.{{cite web |last1=Coetzee |first1=Dylan |title=Newly-capped England wing smashes all-time Champions Cup record |date=8 April 2024 |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/newly-capped-england-wing-smashes-all-time-champions-cup-record |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=7 December 2024}} In May 2024, having scored 10 tries throughout the league season, he won Breakthrough Player of the Season.{{cite web |title=Premiership Rugby Awards: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso wins Breakthrough Player of the Season |url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/premiership-rugby-awards-immanuel-feyi-waboso-wins-breakthrough-player-of-the-season |publisher=Premiership Rugby |access-date=1 November 2024}} That same month, he was named in the Premiership Rugby Team of the Season for the 2023–24 campaign.{{cite web |title=Premiership Rugby Team of the Season 2023/34 |url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/premiership-rugby-team-of-the-season-2023-34 |publisher=Premiership Rugby |access-date=12 December 2024}} He also won the RPA Young Player of the Season 2023-24 as voted for by his fellow players.{{cite web |title=The RPA Awards 2024: Winners |url=https://therpa.co.uk/news/2024/5/the-rpa-awards-2024-winners/ |website=The RPA |access-date=7 January 2025}}

In December 2024, he scored from a cross-field kick in the club's opening fixture of the 2024-25 European Rugby Champions Cup in a 39-21 away loss to the Sharks.{{cite web |last1=Cartwright |first1=Phil |title=Exeter beaten by Sharks in Champions Cup opener |date=6 December 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cdjg3j3mzj4o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=7 December 2024}}

International career

Feyi-Waboso represented Wales at U18 and voiced his dream to play for Wales at international level [https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/future-wales-international-left-without-27758165 in an article in 2023].

He represents England at international level. He qualified on ancestry grounds. His father is half Nigerian and half English, and his paternal grandmother is from Gloucester.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68503857#:~:text=Feyi%2DWaboso%20is%20eligible%20to,paternal%20grandmother%20is%20from%20Gloucester | title=Six Nations 2024: England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's rapid rise to start against Ireland | work=BBC Sport | date=7 March 2024 }}

He received his first call-up to the senior England squad on 17 January 2024 for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.{{Cite web |title=RFU |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-mens-squad-named-for-guinness-mens-six-nations-2024 |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=www.englandrugby.com |archive-date=17 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117200245/https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-mens-squad-named-for-guinness-mens-six-nations-2024 |url-status=dead }} He made his debut on 3 February 2024, in a 27–24 win against Italy in the first round of the Six Nations.{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/immanuel-feyi-waboso-england-wales-six-nations-b1138103.html|title=Immanuel Feyi-Waboso set for long England career, says Steve Borthwick: 'He's ready'|work=London Evening Standard|date=9 February 2024|access-date=21 February 2024}} He scored his first international try in his third international appearance in a 30-21 loss against Scotland on 24 February 2024 whilst coming off the bench.{{cite web |title=Scotland beat England in Six Nations for fourth time in row - reaction |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/rugby-union/67803195 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 February 2024}} He made his first start in the match against Ireland on 9 March 2024. In November 2024, he made his Autumn Nations Series debut scoring a try against New Zealand in a narrow 24-22 defeat at Twickenham. This accomplishment meant he had the unfortunate record of having scored three tries, three games in a row against New Zealand and losing all three games.{{cite web |last1=Henson |first1=Mike |title=All Blacks edge out England in dramatic finale |date=2 November 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c789j9pzdyno |publisher=BBC |access-date=2 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Coombe |first1=Louis |title=Rating every England player from the All Blacks series, as 'brilliant' full-back and star half-back take their chance |date=18 July 2024 |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/rating-every-england-player-from-the-all-blacks-series-as-brilliant-fullback-and-star-half-back-take-their-chance |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=5 November 2024}} Having scored five tries in eight international appearances, he was shortlisted for the 2024 Breakthrough Player of the Year before losing out to Wallace Sititi.{{cite web |last1=Kvesic |first1=Felicity |title=Feyi-Waboso to miss Six Nations after shoulder surgery |date=19 February 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cdxq63dw2k3o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=20 February 2025}}

In February 2025, he was ruled out of the 2025 Six Nations after undergoing shoulder surgery for an injury he sustained.

= International tries =

Try	Opposing team	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"
1 \| {{ru\|SCO}} \| Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh \| 2024 Six Nations \| {{dts\|format=dmy\|2024\|2\|24}} \| 30 - 21
2 \| {{ru\|JPN}} \| Japan National Stadium, Tokyo \| 2024 England rugby union tour of New Zealand \| {{dts\|format=dmy\|2024\|06\|22}} \| 17 - 52
3 \| {{ru\|NZL}} \| Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin \| 2024 England rugby union tour of New Zealand \| {{dts\|format=dmy\|2024\|07\|6}} \| 16 - 15
4 \| {{ru\|NZL}} \| Eden Park, Auckland \| 2024 England rugby union tour of New Zealand \| {{dts\|format=dmy\|2024\|07\|13}} \| 24 - 17
5 \| {{ru\|NZL}} \| Twickenham Stadium, London \| 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals \| {{dts\|format=dmy\|2024\|11\|2}} \| 22 - 24

Personal life

Born to Nigerian parents in Llandaff, Wales, Feyi-Waboso attended Corpus Christi High school. Apart from rugby, he also showed a talent for hurdles and high jump.

Since 2022, alongside playing for Exeter Chiefs and England, Feyi-Waboso is also studying a medical degree at the University of Exeter. During the 2024 Six Nations, he missed a three day training camp with England to complete a face-to-face exam as part of his studies.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Chris |title=Six Nations 2024: England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to miss training camp to sit exam |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68423075 |website=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2024 |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 February 2024}}