Gloucester stun Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on opening weekend
Gloucester stunned Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on 26 September 2026, producing a seven-try performance to win on the opening weekend of the Premiership season. The Cherry and Whites scored freely throughout the match as new captain Dewi Lake and winger Ben Loader each crossed twice.
Exeter arrived at Sandy Park off the back of an unexpected run to last season's Premiership final, where they finished runners-up after losing to Northampton Saints in June, and with new American investment at the club. Gloucester had finished eighth last term and won only once away, but summer signings including Wales pair Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan added optimism at Kingsholm; Lake was named captain and is also Wales skipper. Ben Loader's two tries in this game were one shy of his Premiership total for the whole of last season, underlining Gloucester's attacking intent.
Gloucester opened their scoring with a move from one corner to the other that ended with Ben Redshaw's kick bouncing up for Loader to finish. Exeter then struck when Josh Iosefa-Scott powered over from close range, before a clever kick from Caolan Englefield allowed England centre Seb Atkinson to outsprint defenders and touch down as Gloucester regained the lead. Loader's second try extended Gloucester's advantage later in the half.
Ethan Roots crossed for Exeter to narrow the gap, but Gloucester secured a bonus point before half-time when captain Dewi Lake rejected a kick at goal and went over in the corner, giving his side a 26-12 interval lead. Lake's influence continued after the break as he added a second try by finishing at the back of a driving maul.
Will Joseph produced a long-range score with a burst from inside his own half that beat three defenders, which the report described as the try of the game. Stephen Varney replied for Exeter, and with visiting flanker Freddie Thomas sin-binned for the final 10 minutes, replacement hooker Louie Gulley went over on his Premiership debut to secure a bonus point for the hosts. Junior Denny then scored with the last play of the match to complete Gloucester's try tally and clinch their first win in Devon since 2015.
Exeter's starting XV was Hammersley; Feyi-Waboso, Salde, Butt, Woodburn; Skinner, Varney; Burger, Yeandle, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (capt), Wilson, E Roots, James, Fisilau, with replacements Gulley, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Beckerleg, Bailey, Murray, Haydon-Wood and Wimbush. Gloucester named Redshaw; Joseph, Cokanasiga, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Englefield; Rapava-Ruskin, Lake (capt), Fasagbon, Kleyn, Clark, F Thomas, Morgan and Trenholm, with replacements Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Clement, Ludlow, Robson, Denny and Barton. Freddie Thomas received a yellow card in the 71st minute.
The victory gave Gloucester a bonus-point win on the opening weekend and matched their solitary away victory from last season, immediately improving on their 2025-26 road record.