What's happened
Exeter end their campaign victory drought with a 34-28 win over Newcastle at Sandy Park, led by Christian Wade’s first-half hat-trick and a late shout from Bachuki Tchumbadze. Jake Dalziel becomes Newcastle’s youngest Prem player, while Wade closes in on the all-time Prem try record as crowds struggle for value.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Wade’s hat-trick cements his standing as a century scorer in Prem Rugby, while Dalziel’s breakout signs point to a bright Scottish future. The match doubles as a test of Exeter’s resilience and Newcastle’s development push under Dan McFarland.
- The low attendance at Sandy Park highlights ongoing concerns about matchday value in English top-flight rugby, even as on-field excitement remains high.
- The clash indicates a potential shift in form for both sides: Exeter seeking consistency after a rough start, Newcastle pushing to translate talent into results.
How we got here
Dalziel becomes Newcastle’s youngest Prem player after being called from the bench in the 27th minute; Wade’s hat-trick marks a milestone as he nears Chris Ashton’s all-time Prem tries record. Exeter secure a first win of the season amid a tepid attendance and questions over matchday value.
Our analysis
The Guardian reports Wade’s hat-trick and Dalziel’s debut; BBC Sport corroborates the final score and key moments; The Scotsman provides context on Dalziel’s background and Newcastle’s performance.
Go deeper
- Could Newcastle build on Dalziel’s breakthrough for more Prem appearances this season?
- Will Wade reach or surpass the all-time Prem tries record this campaign?
- What does Exeter’s win say about their chances in the run-in?
More on these topics
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Christian Wade - Former rugby union player
Christian Wade is an English American football player and former rugby union player, currently a running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He previously played rugby union for Wasps, and won one cap for England, as a wing.
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Sandy Park - Stadium in Exeter, England
Sandy Park is a rugby union stadium and conference and banqueting centre in Exeter, England. It is the home ground of Exeter Chiefs, who from the 2010–11 season have been playing in the Gallagher Premiership, the top flight of the English rugby union le
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Exeter Chiefs - English rugby union club, based in Exeter
Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) is an English professional rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon. They play in the Gallagher PREM, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played its home matches at Sandy Park, a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of the city. They have been known by the name Chiefs since 1999. The club was promoted to the Premiership for the first time in 2010. Since promotion, the Chiefs have become one of the leading clubs in the Premiership, winning the championship title twice, in 2016–17 and 2019–20 respectively, and reaching a further five finals. In October 2020, the Chiefs won the Champions Cup, the top prize in European club rugby union, defeating French club Racing 92 in the final. Exeter are the only club to win the top four tiers of English rugby, winning the Premiership in 2017 and 2020, RFU Championship in 2010, National League 1 in 1997 and National League 2 South in 1996. They have won the Anglo-Welsh Cup/Premiership Rugby Cup three times, most recently in 2022–23, and the European Rugby Champions Cup once, in 2020. The current director of rugby is Rob Baxter, who was appointed in March 2009.
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BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC, providing national sports coverage for BBC Television, radio and online. The BBC holds the television and radio UK broadcasting rights to several sports, broadcasting the sport live or alongside flagship analys
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Henry Slade - Wikimedia disambiguation page
Henry Slade may refer to: Henry Slade (medium) (1835–1905), fraudulent medium Henry Slade (rugby union) (born 1993), English rugby union player Henry Adolphus Warre Slade (1869–1936), British businessman and member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong