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<\/p>\nWalesOnline reported earlier this week that the player was a target for a Welsh side<\/p>\n
12:20, 12 Feb 2026Updated 12:21, 12 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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Christ Tshiunza of Wales(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)<\/p>\n
Rob Baxter has admitted reports linking Christ Tshiunza with a return to Cardiff<\/a> \u201ccould be entirely true\u201d as Exeter Chiefs wrestle with Premiership regulations that have forced their hand.<\/p>\n The Wales international is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to agree a new deal at Sandy Park, with WalesOnline reporting earlier this week he could head back to the Welsh capital.<\/a><\/p>\n Tshiunza, 24, was part of Cardiff\u2019s academy system before moving to Exeter via the University of Exeter and has been tipped to replace Ben Donnell, who is bound for Ulster.<\/p>\n And while Baxter stopped short of confirming a move, he did little to dampen the talk.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is off contract at the end of this season with us, and we haven\u2019t re-signed him. So those rumours could be entirely true, but I couldn\u2019t tell you if they are,\u201d the Chiefs director of rugby said.<\/p>\n The situation is complicated by the Premiership\u2019s England-Qualified Player (EQP) regulations. Clubs must maintain an average of 15 EQPs in their 23-man matchday squad across the season or face a \u00a3250,000 fine \u2014 a significant financial hit.<\/p>\n Baxter made clear that balancing those numbers is a major factor in Exeter\u2019s squad planning.<\/p>\n JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe tough one with Christ, really, I don\u2019t mind saying, our EQP numbers are quite tight and making sure that we have that balance in the squad, because for us, it\u2019s very, very important that we keep the funding for the EQP balance,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you look at the make-up, particularly in our forwards, where our frontline players are, especially when you see guys like Bachuki Tchumbadze coming through, who obviously is non-EQP.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve signed Nika Abuladze, who is obviously non-EQP, to make our frontline forwards as strong as we have. At some stage, EQP becomes quite an important factor for us.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd obviously, Zambo (Andrea Zambonin) is going well with Daff (Dafydd Jenkins) in the second row. Tom Hooper is going well in the back row. You know, we start to fill up our non-EQP quota pretty quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s the challenge with keeping Christ. We have to hit an average of 15 across the season. But it\u2019s no different to every other club in the league. You have to make decisions on where your numbers are.\u201d<\/p>\n Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate<\/a> or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings<\/p>\n Tshiunza, who was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and educated at Whitchurch High School<\/a> in Cardiff, has endured a frustrating spell with injuries in recent seasons.<\/p>\n He missed the 2022 Six Nations<\/a> and has made just three appearances this term, having been sidelined since September with a recurring foot problem. He has recently returned to running, although Exeter are wary of pushing him too hard and risking surgery.<\/p>\n Get the latest Wales Rugby merch at Fanatics<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> Various Price<\/p>\n Fanatics<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Untitled-11jpeg.jpg\"\/)
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