No looking back for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso as new England star juggles medical degree and Six Nations

After being rejected by Cardiff University and turning down the chance to play for Wales, he is settled into a new future with Exeter and England
Nick Purewal15 February 2024

Partisan observers in Wales were poring over Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s family tree when the Cardiff-born Exeter wing popped up in England’s Six Nations squad.

When it came to pledging international allegiance, however, the 21-year-old rising star opted to take a leaf out of his parents’ and grandparents’ medical careers.

Feyi-Waboso is every bit as focused on following in his family footsteps to become a doctor as he is about cutting it at Test level with Steve Borthwick’s England.

So, once Cardiff University had rejected his application, despite three A*s at A-Level, Feyi-Waboso now candidly admits the path had opened for him to go on and choose England.

Asked if he had ever wondered what might have been had he been accepted by Cardiff, Feyi-Waboso replied: “Not really, no. As soon as I didn’t get in, I didn’t think about it again, to be fair.”

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has hugely impressed at Exeter
Getty Images

Wales boss Warren Gatland’s reaction to a former Cardiff academy starlet declaring for England was to reveal other coaches in the country were “disappointed” in the young wing’s decision.

Wales ultimately should be disappointed with their own mishandling of a young player’s wider career aspirations. Where Cardiff and the city’s university were disjointed, Exeter Chiefs have worked hand in hand with the Devon city’s seat of learning.

Feyi-Waboso left Cardiff for Wasps after his university application was unsuccessful in the Welsh capital, studying at Aston University in Birmingham instead.

When Wasps fell into administration in October 2022, Exeter jumped in to offer Feyi-Waboso a double lifeline — for both his rugby and his studies.

Chiefs boss Rob Baxter helped secure Feyi-Waboso a place to read medicine at Exeter University and continue his dream to become the third-generation doctor in his family.

“My dad’s an ophthalmologist, and his dad was a gynaecologist in Nigeria,” explained Feyi-Waboso, who represented Wales at Under-18 level.

“My grandmother is English and lives in Gloucester. My dad is half-English and my mum’s Nigerian. I was born in Wales, but my parents moved around a lot. When I came to Exeter, my dad was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve lived here, too’.”

When it came time to choose between England and Wales, Feyi-Waboso said he had always known that decision might be looming — just not half as quickly as has materialised.

Only 10 months ago, Feyi-Waboso was helping Taunton survive a relegation scare in National League One while on loan from Exeter.

Now he has made his full Test debut and has had England head coach Borthwick already tipping him for a long and fruitful international career.

“It’s always been something to think about,” said Feyi-Waboso of his heritage. “I moved to England, a lot of my family are English.

“As soon as I made the transition to Wasps, then moving to Exeter, I had a lot of stability. As soon as I moved to England, it was a decision to think about, but I thought it would be a lot further in the future.

“It’s crazy — this time last year I was playing for Taunton”

“My family helped my decision and definitely didn’t force my hand. Whatever decision I made, they were happy. When Steve Borthwick rang before the Six Nations to say I was on his radar, I was really shocked at the call, but obviously I’m here now.”

Feyi-Waboso has started his degree from scratch at Exeter, and will be sitting exams in and around the Six Nations.

If he is not cramming on his own during spare moments in the England camp, he is taking pointers from RFU doctor Katy Hornby. The Chiefs and Exeter University have worked together to build a daily schedule that allows Feyi-Waboso to both study and train.

For a young man in the middle of a whirlwind year, the new Test cap appears impressively grounded.

“It’s crazy — this time last year I was playing for Taunton,” said Feyi-Waboso, who won his first cap off the bench in England’s Six Nations opening 27-24 win over Italy in Rome.

“It’s been a big step up, definitely. Being around the boys, all of them have been really welcoming. I thought there would be more of a hierarchy, but they’re all so friendly — it’s been really good. I’ve enjoyed the journey, definitely. It feels a bit fast-tracked, but I’ve enjoyed being here, definitely.”

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