Welsh stars extend their stay with Chiefs

By Mark Stevens
10/8/21

Three more of Susie Appleby’s Exeter Chiefs Women’s squad are ready to roar into action again this season after agreeing terms on new deals with the Allianz Premier 15s club.

Welsh international trio Meg Davies, Abbie Fleming and Niamh Terry are the latest names to commit to the Chiefs, who over the past few weeks have been tying up the futures of many of last season’s side, who finished their debut campaign in sixth spot.

The decision by all three is another major boost for head coach Appleby, who is currently readying her team for their pre-season fixture against league rivals Wasps Ladies at Sandy Park on Saturday, August 21 (2pm).

“It’s more great news, isn’t it?” said Appleby. “Obviously, we’re delighted that all three girls have decided to stay with us. Each of them had a real input into last season and you could see as the season went on, they just got better and better.

“That form was then rewarded with call-ups for all of them into the Welsh Six Nations squad and they brought that confident from that back into camp, which was fantastic.

“Like with all the girls, though, we’re now expecting them to kick on and improve even further this season. We know what they are capable of but, at the same time, we know there is real growth in all of them.

“Abbie has come back into pre-season and is looking very strong, whilst Meg and Niamh are just having to overcome injuries they picked up playing sevens. They shouldn’t be too much of a problem for either of them and then we’ll be looking to see how they go.”

As well as the Welsh trio, Appleby has also confirmed that a number of the club’s young players have also signed up for the new season. These include Kayleigh Armstrong, Olivia Churcher, Daisy French, Gabby Gower, Georgie Grimes, Lauren Leatherland, Abby Middlebrooke, Eilidh Sinclair and Jess Thomas.