Exeter Chiefs Women

Exeter Chiefs Women are a professional women's rugby union team based in Exeter, Devon, England.^[1] They were founded in 2019 to take part in the Premier 15s, the top level of English women's rugby. They are based at Sandy Park and are affiliated to Premiership Rugby's Exeter Chiefs.

Creation[]

The creation of Exeter Chiefs Women was announced in September 2019 with former England women's national rugby union team players Susie Appleby and Amy Garnett announced as their first coaches.^[1] Exeter Chiefs announced they would be spending £500,000 to set up the women's team ahead of a scheduled audit of the Premier 15s by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in the hopes they would be able to apply for a place in the league.^[2] Their intent was to increase participation in rugby in Devon and Cornwall.^[3]

In April 2020, as part of the review of the Premier 15s by the RFU, Exeter Chiefs Women were offered a place in the 2020-21 Premier 15s alongside Sale Sharks Women.^[4] The move attracted controversy as Exeter and Sale gained their places at the expense of Waterloo Ladies and Richmond Women,^[5] the latter of which was one of the most historically successful clubs in women's rugby.^[4][6] They were also criticised for not earning their place by promotion however some women's rugby analysts argued that women's rugby needed clubs that had the backing of professional men's sides in order to be viable in the long term.^[6]

Premier 15s[]

Upon announcement of the team joining the Premier 15s, player recruitment was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of internationals from various countries joined the club.^[7] They played their first match in the Premier 15s against Gloucester-Hartpury Women.^[8]

Squad[]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Charlie Budge Hooker Daisy French Hooker Joanna Kitlinski Hooker United States Emily Tuttosi Hooker Canada Laura Delgado Duenas Prop Spain Olivia DeMerchant Prop Canada Georgia Grimes Prop Sachiko Kato Prop Japan Lauren Leatherland Prop Abby Middlebrooke Prop Jess Thomas Prop Michaella Roberts Prop Kayleigh Armstrong Lock Poppy Leitch Lock England McKinley Hunt Lock Canada Clea Fawcett Lock Abbie Fleming Lock Wales Rosanna Moynihan Lock Alex Powell Lock Ebony Jefferies Back row Rachel Johnson Back row United States Milla Lynch-Barbsy Back row Elidh Sinclair Back row Wales Linde van der Velden Back row Netherlands Kate Zackary Back row United States

Player Position Union Megan Davies Scrum-half Wales Patricia García Scrum-half Spain Ffion Lewis Scrum-half Wales Flo Robinson Scrum-half England Taylor Black Fly-half Canada Gabby Cantorna Centre United States Lauren Cattell Centre England Lottie Holland Wing England Louise Burgess Wing Amelia Dennis Wing Jennine Duncan Wing United States Gabby Gower Wing Garnet Mackinder Wing Mollie Pepper Wing Paulina Toresator Wing Niamh Terry Fullback Wales Merryn Doidge Fullback England

References[]