Chiefs Women sign Maddie Flutey on a short-term deal

Exeter Chiefs Women have signed Maddie Flutey, the daughter of former England international Riki, on a short-term deal.

The 18-year-old fly-half will move from her home in Dunedin, New Zealand, but will be an England qualified player as she was born here while her father played for London Wasps.

Flutey captained the New Zealand U18s North Island team and is part of the pathway set-up that is overseen by three-time World Cup winner and the most capped Black Fern, Kendra Cocksedge.

She captained the Columba College team for two years, collecting rugby accolades along the way, including Otago Development Women’s Back of the Year in 2024. At U16s level, she was New Zealand Girls touch captain and was named as the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Having successfully blended touch, sevens and XVs rugby with leadership responsibilities for the last few years, Flutey has joined Chiefs from Otago Spirit after playing in the Farah Palmer Cup Championship this summer. She will return to New Zealand before Christmas to play for the Matatū U18s sevens team at the Global Youth Sevens tournament.

Flutey said: “This is an incredible opportunity to grow, learn, and push my game further with such a strong club.”

Her father played at fly-half or centre for Hawke's Bay, Wellington, the Hurricanes and the New Zealand Māoris before moving to England in 2005. He then played for London Irish and London Wasps before qualifying to play for England in 2008. He accumulated 14 caps and an appearance for the British and Irish Lions. Flutey is now assistant coach for the Black Ferns.

His daughter added: “I’ve learnt everything I know about rugby from my dad. He’s coached me since I first started playing at around nine years old, and he’s been involved in most of my club, school, and provincial teams along the way. He’s not only shown me what it takes to keep improving as a player but also taught me the importance of truly enjoying the game.”

Flutey will join the club at the end of September.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “We are really excited to welcome Maddie to the club. She has built a very impressive CV for someone so young and having had numerous zoom calls with Maddie and her parents, she seems like a very humble and driven person to go with her undoubted rugby talent. Initially, this is a short-term arrangement but if both parties feel it's a good fit, there is scope for this to become long-term.”