Bundy excited to work with talented Chiefs Women’s squad

Exeter Chiefs Women’s new assistant coach Ross Bundy is excited for a new challenge as the squad get stuck into their first week of pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Bundy’s arrival from Leicester Tigers Women was confirmed earlier this month and the Scotsman brings with him a wealth of experience in defence, the breakdown area and forwards.

Discussing what drew him to the job, Bundy said: “The club aligns well with me and my values, the way I see the game as well. Speaking with some of the staff and players, it struck me as an exciting challenge. We want to kick on from last season. It was a good campaign, but I feel like this team can go further.

“I’m excited to get started. I’ve had about five or six weeks off now, so I’m really looking forward to getting started and stuck in with the squad and the staff.”

Chiefs progressed to the semi-final of last season’s competition before being defeated by eventual champions Saracens Women at the StoneX. Having led the charge at Tigers for a season, in charge of their squad rebuild, Bundy is no stranger to just how fiercely competitive the PWR can be.

He said: “It’s a really tough league, you can’t take away just how good every team is. The level reached each week, it’s a new challenge every game as all teams play a little differently. It’ll be interesting having come from Leicester, and that’s what excites me is getting to be immersed in another team’s approach.”

It’s an intriguing prospect to go from preparing to face Chiefs to analysing how to give Chiefs the upper hand as a member of the Exeter coaching staff. Is Bundy looking forward to the change?

He said: “I think it’s going to be interesting. Some of the girls, especially in the forward pack, I’ve seen a lot of what they’re really good at from previous experience of previewing them as the opposition. However, I also feel like I can help them progress a bit in terms of their individual game but also as a collective around set-piece, lineout and scrum.”

Chiefs are not short of experienced and talented players, but one thing that stands out amongst them is the impressive kaleidoscope of backgrounds, cultures and nationalities. A Scotsman in Devon, Bundy is excited to get to know his new players.

He explained: “I think it’ll be an amazing experience. Everyone has come from different places but it’ll be about bringing that all together as one, having that togetherness.

“That will be massive for us, and it’ll be key to instil it from day one. It’s about everyone trying to gel and connect, get onto the same page to make sure we’ve got that alignment.”

Watch the whole interview here or on our YouTube channel.