Photo via BBC Sport

Injured Exeter winger Ridl to miss most of season

Exeter winger Ridl is set to spend the vast majority of the campaign on the sidelines following a non-contact issue sustained while decelerating to distribute a pass during the team's initial warm-up fixture. Although the young back attempted to continue playing, the setback forced his withdrawal just minutes afterward.

The setback arrives right after an impressive breakthrough year in English rugby, highlighted by consecutive hat-tricks across February's Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures alongside a run of six tries during six league appearances between mid-March and mid-May.

Exeter director of rugby Baxter emphasized finding constructive angles amidst the misfortune, pointing out that this hiatus frees Ridl from the weekly demands of competitive senior matches. Baxter highlighted that the extended recovery affords the youngster crucial time to build up his physical conditioning and focus on his ongoing university education, viewing this rehabilitation phase as an investment in the next five or six years of his sporting career.