Exeter Chiefs honour women’s trailblazer

Exeter Chiefs Women will move into the 2025/26 season with a new-look squad but not before the club recognises the contribution of some its departing players, including trailblazing centurion Ebony Jefferies.

Flanker Jefferies recorded her 100th game at the end of last season having played the very first Exeter Chiefs Women’s game back in 2020. She is currently rehabilitating from foot surgery.

Exeter Chiefs chairman and CEO Tony Rowe CBE said: “Ebony has also been a loyal servant to Chiefs Women and played in our very first friendly and league games through to our last PWR match against Leicester, while juggling her playing career with her job as one of our community coaches. I thank her for the contribution she has made to this club.”

The club had previously announced the departure of Stef Evans, Rachel Johnson and Molly Saunders, along with Poppy Leitch, who is the club’s new women’s U23s coach. They will be joined by Lori Cramer and Charli Jacoby, who have most recently been playing with their international squads in the Pacific Four Series.

Niamh Orchard and Georgina Tasker are heading to Hong Kong to pursue playing opportunities, while Ellie Cunningham, Zara Feaunati, Kanako Kobayashi, Flo Long, Mairi McDonald, Mikiela Nelson, Taylor Perry, Sabrina Poulin and Millie Whitehouse are also departing at the end of their contracts.

Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “It is always sad to say goodbye to players, but we know we will see most of them again on the other side of the pitch and they will always be welcome back here at Sandy Park. We wish them all the best and thank them for their service in a Chiefs jersey.”