Leitch identifies initial U23s squad
Exeter Chiefs Women’s new U23s coach Poppy Leitch has selected her initial women's squad for the 2025/26 season.
Amid the 33 players that have been named by Leitch are eight students from the University of Exeter and Exeter College who have been offered PWR Cup contracts for the tournament, which will run from August into September, in tandem with the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Lilly Plowman, Eva Sterritt, Lucy Ward, Ellie Wood and Anna Woodman will feature for the University, and current College students Katherine Dyke, Reese Williams and Charlotte Wreford also hope to be involved.
Leitch said: “This is the first season we have been able to offer a Cup based contract. The PWR Cup series is an amazing campaign that allows our pathway players to get a taste of professional rugby. Off the back of the PWR Cup series, I anticipate many to have their contracts extended for the remainder of the season. These players should be proud of themselves.”
Additionally, the Exeter Chiefs Women’s U23s squad features Evie Constable, Charlotte Coyle, Rosie Ellis-White, Elsie Fairn, Charlotte Heath, Sophie Langford, Josie Plant, Danielle Preece, Kayleigh Priest, Anna Richardson and Hannah Sams from the University.
Exeter College is also providing Ayla Black, Ellie Campbell, Holly Elsby, Izzy Firth, Lizzy Hirrons, Rose Hooper, Honey Kerslake, Scarlett Murgatroyd and Sophie Piper to the squad.
Meanwhile, Rosie Allen, Amelie Fice-Thomson, Ruby Lambrick, Freya Richards and Elizabeth Watson-Gover have been selected from Truro College.
“The aim of this U23s programme is to support the person beyond the player,” added Leitch. “We have four fantastic coaches delivering rugby content across all three programmes on a weekly basis. With these coaches, and the current coaches within the pathways, who are all doing a brilliant job, the rugby provision we offer to the players will continue to go from strength to strength.
“In addition to the rugby support, our aim is to foster the skills required to become and excel as a professional rugby player at the end of their education spell. When I first started playing professionally, I had to learn on the move, and I made plenty of ‘mistakes’ on my journey. Our aim is to provide the infrastructure which gives these players the tools to move into the professional game and stay there. Resilience, discipline, coachability, and leadership are only some of the skills we will focus on.
“While I will be looking after the players and their development, we also want to ensure the staff working within the pathways feel supported. Working in sport can often be lonely and taxing, the more we can guide and assist each other, the better our programmes will be. This is the first season of the U23s programme, and I am sure it will look very different in 12 months’ time. What I do know is that this is only going to benefit the players.
“What I ask from the fans is to show interest in each of our pathways and their success. Great things are being achieved, Exeter College winning the RFU ACE League not long ago to name one. Let’s celebrate together.”