Chiefs Women sign triple Wales international Bluck

Exeter Chiefs Women have signed international centre Hannah Bluck, who has also played age-grade football and basketball for her country.

The 28-year-old centre used to play for Warriors Women but has been concentrating on international rugby with Wales and Brython Thunder in Celtic Challenge since the demise of the club in 2023.

Before rugby, Bluck had a flourishing football career before dislocating her ankle and fracturing her fibula in 2013. A rare condition, which causes a lack of blood supply to the bone, was another hurdle she had to navigate but she still returned to football two years later.

Bluck has Wales football caps at U16s, U17s and U19s age levels, and international appearances in basketball too. She began playing rugby at the age of 19 while studying for a degree in strength and conditioning at the University of South Wales.

She was selected for Wales’s 2018 Six Nations squad just a year later. She has 15 caps and played for Wales in this year’s Six Nations against Ireland and Italy.

Snapped up by Cardiff Blues Ladies before moving to Worcester in 2020, Bluck has been given an opportunity with Exeter Chiefs Women.

She said: “I’m excited for the opportunity to play for Chiefs. They have such an amazing set-up and a good platform for development. I’m looking forward to be back playing Premiership rugby and I'm grateful for the opportunity to play among some extremely talented athletes.

“I’m very excited for the future and I am thankful for the warm welcome I have received from players and all the staff.”

Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “For someone to represent their country in three different sports shows what a talented sportsperson Hannah is. Her physicality, both sides of the ball, is a real point of difference, and it will be fantastic to see her in a Chiefs shirt over the coming weeks.”