Exeter Chiefs Women

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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. The side is coached by Head Coach, Susie Appleby.^[2] Kate Zackary and Poppy Leitch operate as co-captains of the side.

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.^[3] Their intent was to increase participation in rugby in Devon and Cornwall.^[4]

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.^[5] The move attracted controversy as Exeter and Sale gained their places at the expense of Waterloo Ladies and Richmond Women,^[6] the latter of which was one of the most historically successful clubs in women's rugby.^[5][7] 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.^[7]

In their debut season, the side finished 6th in the Premier 15s.^[8] In their second season, they reached the first final in their history, against Harlequins Women in the Allianz Cup.

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.^[9] They played their first match in the Premier 15s against Gloucester-Hartpury Women.^[10]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Clara Nielson Hooker England Daisy French Hooker Emily Tuttosi Hooker Canada Laura Delgado Prop Spain Hope Rogers Prop United States Georgia Grimes Prop England Sachiko Kato Prop Japan Lauren Leatherland Prop England Abby Middlebrooke Prop England Jess Thomas Prop England Michaella Roberts Prop England Kayleigh Armstrong Lock England Poppy Leitch Lock England McKinley Hunt Lock Canada Alia McCarthy Hooker Abbie Fleming Lock Wales Charlie Willett Lock England Nichola Fryday Lock Ireland Ebony Jefferies Back row England Rachel Johnson Back row United States Maisy Allen Back row England Eilidh Sinclair Back row Scotland Linde van der Velden Lock Netherlands Kate Zackary Back row United States

Player Position Union Megan Davies Scrum-half Wales Patricia García Scrum-half Spain Brooke Bradley Scrum-half England Flo Robinson Scrum-half England Megan Foster Fly-half United States Gabby Cantorna Centre United States Zintle Mpupha Centre South Africa Lottie Holland Centre England Louise Burgess Wing England Charlotte Woodman Wing England Jennine Detiveaux Wing United States Gabby Gower Wing England Garnet Mackinder Wing England Laura Sheehan Wing Ireland Chloe Rollie Fullback Scotland Niamh Terry Fullback Wales Merryn Doidge Fullback England

The following are players which have represented their countries at the Rugby World Cup whilst playing for Exeter Chiefs:

Tournament	Players selected	England players	Other national team players
2021	17	Claudia MacDonald	Chloe Rollie, Eilidh Sinclair , Robyn Wilkins, Abbie Fleming , DaLeaka Menin, Emily Tuttosi, Gabrielle Senft, McKinley Hunt , Silvia Turani , Charli Jacoby, Gabby Cantorna, Hope Rogers, Jennine Detiveaux, Megan Foster, Rachel Johnson, Kate Zackary (c)