Bluck and Buchanan line up to start against Gloucester-Hartpury

Exeter Chiefs Women’s newest signing centre Hannah Bluck will start Sunday’s PWR Cup game against Gloucester-Hartpury with winger Katie Buchanan returning to action after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Merryn Elworthy has also returned to her usual berth at full-back with Eilidh Sinclair sidelined by the fractured cheekbone she picked up against Harlequins two weeks ago.

In the forwards, Linde van der Velden will make her first start of the season in the second row and former Hartpury University masters student Zoe Dare will begin the game at flanker. Hooker Kayleigh Priest will get her chance from the get-go with her selection in the first XV.

On the bench, Devon-born speedster Sammie Harris will be aiming to get on the field along with scrum-half Charlotte Heath, who is a recent product of the Exeter College rugby academy system and will be hoping to make her Chiefs debut.

Head coach Steve Salvin said: “To be clear, this selection is not performance based. We are still at the stage of the year when we need to see players start games and see what impact they have when they come off the bench as well.

“We want to have a look at Zoe (Dare) from the start, and we need to see what Hannah (Bluck) can bring to the team too. Charlotte is a talented younger player, and we need to see how she copes with the step up to senior rugby and we were keen to get Sammie some minutes. “

Chiefs lost 61-29 to Harlequins two weeks ago despite winning the first half with five tries. Elsewhere in pool A, Gloucester-Hartpury lost to Trailfinders 60-12.

Salvin added: “We were way more concerned about performance, not the outcome. For 60 minutes, the game was very tight, but we gave our young players an opportunity while Quins’ experienced players shone through. Some of our players had a tough game but they will have learned a huge amount from that game, and I believe it was a positive playing experience.

“This week, we have a decent spread of senior players but interspersed with some really young players. Gloucester-Hartpury had a tough game against Trailfinders so they will want a reaction as well. Both teams are going to want a better outcome. For us though, it’s more about developing our players.”

Chiefs Women will travel to 4ED Hartpury Stadium on Sunday for a 13:00 kick-off.

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 Merryn Elworthy

14 Danielle Preece

13 Naomi Brennan

12 Hannah Bluck

11 Katie Buchanan

10 Liv McGoverne

9 Flo Robinson (vc)

1 Demi Swann

2 Kayleigh Preece

3 Alessia Skeates

4 Emily Robinson (c)

5 Linda van der Velden

6 Zoe Dare

7 Maisy Allen (vc)

8 Gabriella Nigrelli

Replacements

16 Sofia Bekir Fuente

17 ⁠Hannah Sams

18 Lucy Ward

19 ⁠Lola Whitley

20 ⁠Taz Bricknell

21 ⁠Charlotte Heath

22 Sophie Langford

23 Sammie Harris