Canadian duo sign up for more Chiefs time

Loosehead prop Demi Swann and utility back Alex Tessier have signed new contract to keep them at Exeter Chiefs into next season.

Born in Ontaria, Canada, she is qualified to play for both Canada and Scotland. She was called up to the Scotland squad last year for the WVX tournament but did not get any game time and trained with Canada ahead of the Pacific Four Series. She was more recently named in the Women’s Canada Selects squad.

At club level, Swann made her debut for Chiefs with a start in the opening game of the inaugural PWR season against Leicester Tigers Women and has made seven appearances since then, including a Player of the Match performance against Trailfinders.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “Demi has made great progress this season and has plenty more to offer. I look forward to seeing how she develops next season and would love to see more of her running in the loose like she did against Ealing!”

Swann came to rugby after she took up wrestling. She also represented Glasgow Warriors in the 2024 Celtic Challenge.

She said: “I am super grateful to have the opportunity to return to Sandy Park next season and to continue learning from such a talented group of players. One season wasn’t enough!”

Meanwhile, Tessier has also extended her stay at Sandy Park having been an influential member of the squad since her Chiefs debut in November last year.

Also, very adept at playing at full-back and centre, Tessier was largely selected at fly-half for the 2023/24 season where her kicking game resulted in a bounty of tries scored from lineout drives and well-timed chip-kicks and searing runs also creating scoring opportunities.

The Canadian international arrived at the club on the back of WXV1 and was also away for a title-winning Pacific Four Series where she helped her team record a historic win against New Zealand to propel Canada to second place in the world rankings

Appleby said: “Tess loves to play; she is an exciting player to watch, and she has provided so much entertainment to the Exeter Chiefs fans and anyone else who follows women’s rugby. We are really pleased she is staying with us as I think she will continue to develop her game in our competitive league while also bringing that French-Canadian flair we are all becoming used to.”

Tessier said: “I want this group of players to continue building in this league. We were all disappointed with losing the semi-final this season, so we will continue to fight for every result, week in week out, up until the finals next year. I would dearly love to win the Allianz PWR with this team.”