Menin reliving her high school days at No 8

Canadian tighthead prop DaLeaka Menin will return to her high school days when she runs out at No 8 for Exeter Chiefs Women tomorrow.

Normally found at the cornerstone of the pack, Menin is stepping into the back row to replace the injured Maddie Feaunati as Exeter Chiefs head into round 17 of the PWR.

The 30-year-old will find herself at the back of the pack, rather than in the front row, as Chiefs take on Bristol Bears at Shaftesbury Park.

Menin said: “The last time I played No 8 would have been in high school, so like 17, 18, when they were just trying to get your big girls on the ball! It was fun.

“I mean, I do have a lot of respect for the scrum. Obviously, it's sometimes nice to not be in the middle of it doing all the backbreaking work. I'm excited to get a break from that. And hopefully, maybe that'll get me around the pitch more because I won't have to expend that kind of energy.”

As one of Chiefs Women’s top try scorers this season and a devastating mover in the loose, the coaching staff have decided to unleash Menin against the Bears.

“I'm excited for it. It'll be interesting, even in training, I'm like, ‘Wow, I cross the pitch way more than I usually do!’ When you're the first one out of a scrum, how can you not?”

Tomorrow’s game signifies the start of the last block of the PWR, which has almost been a year long, as Chiefs Women began pre-season on 1 June. It will determine who goes through to the semi-finals with Chiefs already locked in for the progression games.

“It is exciting to get back to it. Obviously, we've had girls away at internationals, but we've also had girls that are here grinding away. It's fun to be back together…get in the rhythm.

“These last two games are obviously important. We want to make sure we finish the season well going into a semi-final well prepared. Everyone's just excited to play.”

See Exeter Chiefs Women’s team news here and watch the full interview with Menin below.