From fresher to flyer: Buchanan hits 50

Exeter Chiefs Women’s winger Katie Buchanan will make her 50th appearance for the club when she runs out at Sandy Park tomorrow.

Buchanan made her Chiefs debut in September 2022 against DMP Sharks. Her agility and speed have seen her score 19 tries for the club and she was part of the Chiefs side that won 2022/23 Allianz Cup. In addition, she was named Exeter Chiefs Women’s Young Player of the Year and the Supporters’ Club Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season.

Now, she faces the triple PWR champions Gloucester-Hartpury on home soil to celebrate her milestone appearance. Despite their recent success and their whole host of Red Roses and other international players, Buchanan says there is nothing to fear tomorrow.

“We know what they're going to bring. They're going to be physical, but they're not going to be scared to distribute the ball and try to put the pressure on us. We've just got to stick to our process, stick to our game-plan and not let them dictate what we do.

“You can never fear a team. You just have to go there with the mindset that you can always win. And I mean, being at Sandy Park, hopefully, will make it a bit more special as well.”

Buchanan is the fourth player in a succession of 50th Chiefs caps with Nancy McGillivray and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald collecting theirs in the third-place play-off against Bristol Bears at Shaftesbury Park, and Hope Rogers getting hers at Trailfinders Sports Ground last weekend. Buchanan gets to celebrate hers at home.

“Yeah, I'm excited. I can't believe that I've played 50 games already. It's been gone by in a blink of an eye. I'm super excited and proud to represent Chiefs.”

Buchanan graduated from the University of Exeter women's rugby pathway to become a professional player along with McGillivray and Maisy Allen, who she also played England U20s with. The 22-year-old cites these relationships as the highlight of her 50 games as a Chief.

She added: “Me, Nancy, Maisy and a lot of other girls who have left now, started as little freshers at Exeter Uni and then all coming to Chiefs at different stages and just making those friendships with people coming and people going, but always having those friendships still.”

Exeter Chiefs Women and Gloucester-Hartpury will kick-off 15:o0 tomorrow. Tickets are just £11 for adults and £5.50 for U17s. They are available here. The game is also being shown live on BBC iPlayer.

Full interview with Katie Buchanan below.