Just like that - the Gallagher Premiership is back as Leicester Tigers take on Exeter Chiefs at 3:05pm on Saturday, September 21 at Sandy Park. 

Tigers have wrestled, they've run but the real job starts here, with Michael Cheika out to turn over a Chiefs side who boast an impressive home record, particularly in round one of England's top-flight where they have never been bested at home in the opening game of the season. 

Tomorrow's hosts have 2023/24 breakout star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in their ranks but do have a growing injury list ahead of the opening fixture, including England international Henry Slade and bruising flanker Jacques Vermeulen. 

Chiefs still have plenty of pace and power in their side, however. The back-row of Roots, Vincent and Fisilau is impressive. 

Michael Cheika has named Ollie Chessum as captain for his first official game with four debutants included in the matchday squad. 

• Chiefs scored 12 tries from tap penalties last season; only one other side (Bath Rugby - 10) reached double figures.
• Chiefs made 229 entries to the 22 last season - the most in the Premiership. In defence, they allowed just 169 22m entries; the second fewest after Sale Sharks (163).
• No team kicked more often than Leicester Tigers last season (605 times).
• Leicester Tigers stole the ball from their opponents’ lineout 26 times last season, second only to Saracens (29). Their opponents won their lineouts just 85.6% of the time, the fourth lowest in the league.
• Freddie Steward caught 95 high balls last season - the third-most in the league. His success rate was the highest among the top three (89.5%).Exeter Chiefs have won just three of their last eight Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches.
• Chiefs have lost just twice at Sandy Park in the tournament since October 2022, but both of those have been in the space of their last four home matches.
• Exeter have only lost on the opening weekend once since 2017 and that was when the visited Leicester, in 2021.
• Leicester Tigers’ three game losing run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended when they beat today’s opponents, Exeter, 40-22 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the final round of last season.
• The Tigers most recent away win in Premiership Rugby was when they visited Newcastle in Round 14.
• The last four meetings between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day.

Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood & Jonathan Healy
TMO: David Rose

Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester Tigers

3:05pm, Sandy Park, Exeter

Live on TNT Sports