Chiefs Women get more Taz time with new contract

Exeter Chiefs Women have extended Taz Bricknell’s contract to keep her at Sandy Park.

The Kent-born flanker moved to Chiefs after Warriors Women folded in October 2023. Bricknell had spent five years with the club following short spells with Bristol Bears Women and Gloucester-Hartpury.

Bricknell said: “I think the hardest thing was that leaving Worcester was not my choice; it was just ‘You can’t play rugby anymore’. I genuinely thought I would not play again because clubs were full and had teams. I never thought I would move down here because it was just that little bit too far, but it took me two months to message Susie and she messaged back to say we should have a chat.”

That chat led to the 26-year-old making her debut against Trailfinders Women in January this year, scoring a try on her first run out at Sandy Park to mark her return to rugby after an injury and swapping clubs.

Since then, Bricknell has played a total of 10 games for Chiefs and scored four tries.

“I love it here,” Bricknell added. “I’m just like a kid who wants to run around and play rugby all the time and I can do that here. Everything has just fallen into place.”

Away from rugby, Bricknell has settled down in Teignmouth with her fiancée Paige and works for the Community Support Team.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “Taz is a really happy player, full of energy, who has been a welcome addition to our squad. She is a great rugby player with excellent skill sets. She is getting better and better as she accustoms to the way we play, bringing power, pace and physicality in abundance. I’m so pleased she is enjoying herself down here and committing her future to Chiefs.”