Who is Zack Wimbush? Exeter’s hat-trick scorer and his England-Wales eligibility

Zack Wimbush scored three tries against Toulouse on Sunday, giving Exeter Chiefs a standout individual performance even as they slipped to a 43-40 Champions Cup defeat.

The 22-year-old is a centre who stepped into the wing position vacated by the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. His international qualifications have already attracted attention: born in Hong Kong, Wimbush qualifies for England and Wales, with his Welsh connection coming through his mother.

His route to this point has included academy rugby, injuries and loan spells below the Premiership.

Who is Zack Wimbush?

Wimbush is an Exeter Chiefs back who joined the club’s senior ranks ahead of the 2022/23 season.

According to Exeter’s official player profile, he began playing rugby at Valley Fort in Hong Kong aged eight. He moved to Mount Kelly in Tavistock at 13, before attending Exeter College and progressing through the Chiefs’ under-18 side.

Detail	Zack Wimbush
Date of birth	24 October 2003
Birthplace	Hong Kong
Height	1.98m / 6ft 6in
Weight	112kg, as listed by Exeter
Club	Exeter Chiefs
Listed position	Centre
Position against Toulouse	Right wing

He made his senior Exeter debut against Bath in the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2022 and became more regularly involved with the first team during 2023/24.

Can Zack Wimbush play for England or Wales?

Wimbush has been reported as eligible for both countries, with RugbyPass identifying his mother as the source of his Welsh qualification.

Being born in Hong Kong does not prevent that. World Rugby’s eligibility regulations allow players to qualify through a parent or grandparent’s birthplace, alongside other routes.

The international discussion also predates his Toulouse hat-trick. Speaking in March, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter acknowledged the attention around Wimbush’s qualifications but said the player was some distance from needing to make a serious decision.

Those comments should be read in their original context. They were made during his PREM Rugby Cup run, rather than in response to Sunday’s performance.

There is also a distinction between qualifying for a country and meeting its selection policy. Wales’ separate rules for players based outside the country can affect their availability, as Christ Tshiunza’s move from Exeter to Sale demonstrated.

Wimbush’s Welsh qualification establishes a potential international route. It does not establish that he has chosen Wales or received a call-up.

Why was Wimbush playing on the wing against Toulouse?

Exeter’s team announcement for the trip to France confirmed that Wimbush would replace Feyi-Waboso, who was managing a hamstring injury.

Will Butt and Henry Slade occupied the centre positions, with Wimbush joining Tommy Wyatt and full-back Sam Harris in the back three.

He scored twice before half-time and completed his hat-trick after the interval. Exeter repeatedly threatened an upset, but Toulouse held on and Slade missed a late penalty that would have levelled the scores.

It was an impressive return from an unfamiliar position. Three tries showed how effectively Exeter could use Wimbush as a finishing option outside their established midfield, while giving Baxter another combination to consider.

How loan spells helped restart his Exeter career

Wimbush’s progress has included periods away from Sandy Park.

In a March interview with Exeter, he explained how injuries had disrupted his 2024/25 season. He had initially targeted a place in the matchday squad, then spent time with Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion before returning to the Chiefs’ cup team.

“I learned to play with a lot more confidence while I was with Pirates,” he said.

That confidence was visible in his carrying. Wimbush also explained that his ability to hold the ball in one hand helped him fend off tacklers or release an offload.

Baxter’s account added another part of the story: an injury had limited the Pirates spell, before regular rugby at Plymouth helped Wimbush earn his Exeter opportunity.

Sunday gave him a much bigger stage on which to show that progress. The next challenge is to turn the Toulouse performance into sustained involvement, whether Baxter needs him in midfield or out wide.

With Wales preparing to announce their Nations Championship squad, his qualifications will invite further discussion. His immediate contribution to Exeter, however, is already clear: a developing centre has shown he can offer a serious attacking threat on the wing.