Exeter Chiefs Women head into 100th competitive game

Exeter Chiefs Women will play their 100th league or cup game when they take on Trailfinders Women in the PWR on Saturday.

The women’s team was formed in 2019 with current head coach Susie Appleby the driving force behind its inception having helped set up Gloucester-Hartpury in 2014.

Appleby said: “I was attracted to Exeter Chiefs because of their fantastic reputation and what they had achieved with the men’s team. There was a clear appetite and enthusiasm to accommodate a women’s team, just as long as we were competitive, which I think we have achieved!”

Since arriving at Sandy Park, Appleby has persuaded more than 100 different players to play for Chiefs in the last four seasons with eight original players still with the women’s side in its fifth year.

Gabby Cantorna, Merryn Doidge, Ebony Jefferies, Poppy Leitch, Flo Robinson, Eilidh Sinclair, Emily Tuttosi and Linde van der Velden continue to rack up the appearances with Leitch leading the way.

Appleby has also tapped into rich sources of local talent from the region’s junior clubs with Exeter Saracens producing Leitch, Abby Middlebrooke and Lucy Nye from the current squad along with Danielle Preece from Exmouth, Kayleigh Priest and Hannah Sams from Kingsbridge, Merryn Doidge from both Liskeard-Looe and Newquay, Clara Nielson from Tavistock, and Jefferies from Truro.

The rugby programmes at Exeter College and the University of Exeter have also provided a lucrative talent pathway that has seen Maisy Allen, Naomi Brennan, Katie Buchanan, Ellie Cunningham, Sophie Langford, Nancy McGillivray, Niamh Orchard, Kate Smith and Millie Whitehouse all come through the ranks to make up a significant proportion of the 2024/25 squad.

The university programme, headed up Leitch, sees younger squad members play in the BUCS league on a Wednesday or for Exeter Athletic at weekends to ensure they get enough game-time.

“One of our main aims as coaches is to produce Red Roses but you need to find decent club players first, and the college and university have helped us do that with Poppy being a key component of the latter’s success,” added Appleby. “Maisy was our first homegrown player to be capped by the Red Roses with Katie and Nancy also England transition contracted players. I have no doubt there will be many more Red Roses to come as Chiefs Women matures as a team.”

Appleby has also been successful in attracting talent from around the world, with many players from this year’s squad expected to feature in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025 playing for Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Scotland and USA.

Chiefs Women were also proud to see two of their own – Hope Rogers and Alex Tessier - named in the recent World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year, with current Red Rose Maddie Feaunati nominated for Women’ s15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.

“I’ve been lucky enough over the last five seasons to coach some of the best players in the world. It’s not just their talent that I love, it’s their zest for life and their willingness to invest in Exeter Chiefs as a club. This is what makes the job really special,” continued Appleby. “They are great company and a delight be around, but their achievements on the pitch are what they work so hard for. Whether it’s league wins, victories with their home nations or university success, we celebrate them all.

“However, Maisy’s first cap against Canada at Sandy Park was a standout moment. I would add finding Maddie and seeing Nancy score that interception try for Chiefs after 17 months out with injury; I think these are moments everyone can be proud of.”

Chiefs Women began their first of 82 league fixtures with an opening game against Gloucester-Hartpury. These have included three semi-finals and one final. Chiefs have also played 17 cup games, winning the competition twice. This makes Saturday’s game their 100th match.

As an aside, they have also featured in three friendlies with two at the start of this season.

But which games stick out in Appleby’s mind?

“I have two! The semi-final win against Saracens at Sandy Park in 2023 was a great day. Eilidh Sinclair’s late try and the happy faces of the players when the whistle went were just wonderful to see.

“My other favourite game was our first cup final win against Harlequins. It had been close at half-time but then we shut them out for the second half while we scored another six tries.

“We had 4,000 at the league semi-final and more than 2,000 supporters at the cup final, and those fans definitely played their part.”

As previously mentioned, Chiefs have won cup silverware and have come close with three top-four finishes. There is little doubt that ambition to win the title is very much a goal but also to generate more passion for the game in the South West.

Appleby said: “Not only do I want to see more young girls take up the sport but also for more people to want to come and watch our players. Devon and the rest of the South West is already a region that has strong bedrock of girls’ rugby and we see evidence of this in our own squad. But not everyone wants to play rugby and that’s ok!

“This does not mean these people cannot be inspired by the strong, fearless, fast, quick-thinking, fun-loving and entertaining athletes who play for us. They offer ideal role models for young and older people and are a joy to work with. I would love to see our crowds grow at Sandy Park. We are so grateful for the fans who already come and watch us, but I think our players deserve even more attention.”

Exeter Chiefs CEO and chairman Tony Rowe CBE said: “Susie certainly met the brief I first set out. The women’s team have been competitive from the outset and currently sit at the top of the PWR table.

“These players are an important part of our club and I, too, would love to see more people come and see them in action. Local rugby fans are missing out on seeing some of the best rugby players in the world in action right here at Sandy Park.”