Bricknell making strides to recovery

“I've still got my shirt with my name on it in my bedroom. I look at it every day, and the goal is that I want another one.”

These are the words of Exeter Chiefs Women’s flanker Taz Bricknell after returning to supported running following a knee dislocation at the start of the season.

Having scored five tries in the 2025/26 PWR Cup, Bricknell earned her first start in the PWR against Trailfinders Women but her game was short lived as she came off injured after 20 minutes.

“It's probably my biggest heartbreak to date. I really felt like I'd found my feet. I was playing probably the best rugby I've ever played.

“I worked so hard to get my first start for Chiefs in the Premiership. I had my name on the back of my shirt for the very first time, so that whole game just meant so much to me.”

Surgery quickly followed and a spell of lengthy rehabilitation began. In recent weeks, Bricknell has shared footage of her running on a supported treadmill. Progress is being made!

“It was fantastic. I got in the machine, and I ran for about 10 seconds, and I honestly had a little tear in my eye. It's been a really long and hard six months of being completely off-feet and having so much rehab to do.

“Actually, for me, running is something that really clears my mind and helps me mentally. So not being able to do that's been tough. So, for the last two weeks, I've felt like a brand-new person.”

Bricknell will build up her running prowess on the anti-gravity treadmill by adding more of her body weight to each session to test her knee.

However, the physical pain and effort is just the tip of the iceberg. The mental strain of accepting a season is over is also tough to take.

“It’s really hard to come to the mindset of it all being over so quickly and getting the news that would be my season done and I'd need surgery. It was quite hard to overcome and mentally prepare for, but I mean, I'm halfway through and it can only go up from here, so I’m just trying to be positive.

“It's important to also build up your muscles but also confidence. I've struggled with certain exercises, because once you've dislocated it - twice I've done it now - you get massive PTSD every time you're doing any kind of squat or jump or anything like landing and things like that, but I just have to trust it.”

Bricknell has had a good support network though not least from her teammates and the medical and rehabilitation staff at Exeter Chiefs Women, but also from her mum. They have both been in “knee-hab” this season.

“My mum's amazing. She started playing rugby about three years ago, but she's just re-ruptured her ACL.

“We're both going through knee-hab at the same time. We talk every day and sometimes she sends me photos of her rehab and I do the same. It's really special that we have that in common and we're going through that together.

“She's my rock. Anytime I have a bad day, I'll ring her and rant, and she does the same to me. I'm really grateful for her.”

Bricknell will not grace a rugby pitch again until next season, but the plan is that she will come back better than before.

“That is my goal. I want to be fitter, stronger, faster than the player I was before. I want to come back and play and people be like, ‘You can tell she's waited a year to step back on the field’.”

“That's the kind of thing that keeps me motivated. I've still got my shirt with my name on it in my bedroom. I look at it every day, and the goal is that I want another one.”