Detiveaux aims to fly high with the Chiefs

By Harry Scott-Munro
22/5/22

Exeter Chiefs’ soaring Eagle Jennine Detiveaux is relishing the prospect of a home semi-final today as her side take on Bristol Bears for a spot in the Allianz Premier 15s final (4:30pm).

It will be a case of déjà vu this weekend as the Chiefs and the Bears clash for a second successive week. The narrow 29-26 victory last Saturday secured Exeter second place in the league and a home semi-final berth. 

In a topsy-turvy encounter, the USA Eagles star continued her red-hot try scoring encounter, with another brace, to take her tally to 12 in all competitions this season.

After injury hampered her first season in England, Detiveaux has relished the opportunity to show what she can do with ball in hand this season.

“Unfortunately, that early season injury stopped me playing matches. I think I only played a total of sixty minutes of rugby last year. This year though has been so much more fun, being involved, being here and getting to know everybody. I’m fortunate to be over here playing this much rugby, so it’s great building into the World Cup.”

Last weekend’s encounter saw both sides hit the front on multiple occasions and Detiveaux is expecting a similarly high-octane battle come kick-off today.

“I’m really excited. We’ve worked so hard this season and it’s going to be another opportunity to keep making history. I don’t really have words for it. We’re going to come out here and show everyone who we are.

“Bristol came out last weekend really hard. They are a great team to go up against, especially in the semis, so we’re really looking forward to that. I think it’s going to be a really good match-up again. We know what they are going to bring, and they know what we’re going to bring, so it’s going to be a really good game.”

Whilst support has been growing in the grandstand week on week, so has the support for the Chiefs across the globe, with significant interest in the performances of the side in North America. Detiveaux admitting that her friends and family back in the United States have found the season ‘really exciting,’ and highlighted the lengths that they have been going to in watching the matches live each week.

“They are always asking for the livestream, and they always get up super early. I think there’s about five hours difference on the east coast and eight on the west coast,” she chuckled. “They are all waking up at 4am to watch us play, which is just great”

Detiveaux also praised the Sandy Park crowd for their vocal support throughout the season, admitting that getting to the final would be a significant achievement for her side in just their second season.

“It’s amazing. Just having this many people watching us play and backing us really helps with our performance. All the support is just an amazing feeling. Getting this far is a great accomplishment but to get to the final would be the cherry on top.”