Team news: Chiefs Women go for bronze to set up focused season run-in

Exeter Chiefs Women will be gunning for third place in this season’s Allianz Cup to set themselves up for the last three regulation games of the league season.

Chiefs’ coaching team have selected a blend of experienced and young players for Sunday's game that sees them take on Gloucester-Hartpury at Sandy Park (KO 12:30).

Four University of Exeter undergraduates – full-back Harriette Bond, wing Katie Buchanan, centre Sophie Langford, and No 8 Niamh Orchard – feature in the starting XV. This will be Buchanan’s first game back since injuring her ankle against Loughborough Lightning last month.

Fellow university students Kate Smith, Lottie Dadds, Danielle Preece and Connie Clarke will also be hoping to make an impact from the bench, marking a potential Chiefs debut for winger Clarke.

Exeter College student and England U20s prop Hannah Sams will also make her first start for Chiefs tomorrow.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “This represents a great opportunity for these younger players to test their skills against the current leaguer leaders. Poppy Leitch has been doing a great job at the university in preparing these players for life as a Chief, with the likes of Katie, for example, already an established member of our squad and in the England set-up.

“We are committed to producing more and more potential England players and exposure to game-time at this level will develop these young women even further. I am excited to see what they can do.”

There is plenty experience in the match-day squad too with wing Eilidh Sinclair and centre Merryn Doidge completing the backline, and Robyn Wilkins and Brooke Bradley as the starting half-back pairing.

Prop Abby Middlebrooke and hooker Clara Nielson join Sams in the front row with locks Linde van der Velden and Leitch, and flankers Ebony Jefferies and Taz Bricknell completing the pack.

Panashe Muzambe is back on the bench to accompany Daisy French, Demi Swann and Harriet Millar-Mills.

Appleby added: “Sunday’s game is really important to us. We want that bronze medal position and to put on a good performance in front of our ever-loyal home supporters.

“Crucially, will also want to create positive momentum that we can take into the final rounds of the Allianz PWR and into the play-offs. We have three more games to play, with two at home; we want to be focused and competitive for these final games.”

Sunday’s game is £11 for adults and £5.50 for children 16 and under. This game is included in all season ticket holder packages.

Exeter Chiefs’ Gallagher Premiership game against Gloucester will be broadcast on the big screens in the bars after the game (KO 15:00).

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 Harriette Bond
14 Eilidh Sinclair
13 Merryn Doidge (vc)
12 Sophie Langford
11 Kate Buchanan
10 Robyn Wilkins
9 Brooke Bradley
1 Abby Middlebrooke
2 Clara Nielson
3 Hannah Sams
4 Linde van der Velden
5 Poppy Leitch (c)
6 Ebony Jefferies
7 Taz Bricknell
8 Niamh Orchard

16 Daisy French
17 Demi Swann
18 Panashe Muzambe
19 Kate Smith
20 Harriet Millar-Mills
21 Lottie Dadds
22 Danielle Preece
23 Connie Clarke