New U23s coaching role secured by Leitch

Exeter Chiefs Women’s first centurion and University of Exeter head coach Poppy Leitch has been named as the new U23s coach ahead of next season.

In this new role, Leitch will oversee the entire pathway programme for girls and women coming through the Exeter College, Truro College and University of Exeter teams. She will be supported by a strong coaching staff of Emily and Flo Robinson, Alex Tessier and Abby Middlebrooke. The club has encouraged Leitch to focus on this new coaching role, which means she has had to step away from playing.

Interim head coach Steve Salvin said: “We have already seen the success Poppy has had as the head coach at the University. This new role is perfect for her in that she will be able to exert her positive influence before players even reach the university and build an even stronger pathway to produce excellent Exeter Chiefs Women’s players for the future.

“Poppy will be ably assisted by three international players with Tess concentrating her efforts on the University, Emily on the college and Flo will cover both, while Abby will continue to provide her expertise to both teams too. This structure will give young players coaching support a clear route to follow as they try to improve their skills and potentially secure careers in professional rugby.”

CEO and chairman Tony Rowe said: “We are undertaking bold, wholesale changes to the coaching structure here at Exeter Chiefs and that includes those who oversee the care of our younger players. We want to produce more England qualified players that have come through our pathway and Poppy has already had success in this area. I have no doubt she will flourish in this role.”

Rowe added: “Poppy will always be the club’s first centurion for our women’s team. Her contribution to the club as a player, captain and Exeter University’s head coach has been remarkable. The number of players who have come through her programme to pull on a Chiefs jersey is testament to her success that we are looking to build on with her new role. Thank you, Poppy, for all your dedication to our club.”

Leitch will also oversee Exeter’s Women’s Championship South 1 side follow their promotion this season.

Leitch said: “I am excited to get stuck in with this new U23s infrastructure that we have put in place for the season ahead. Our aim is to invest in the person beyond the play.

“Each of the programmes within our pathway have shown the ability to produce excellent players with world class potential. The aim of the U23s programme is to develop the holistic skills these players require to have long, successful careers.

“We have already identified more than 30 players who will become part of the U23s programme, with a new cohort still due to join in September 2025. While we aim to sow the seeds of the future, our ultimate aim is to make Exeter Chiefs and Sandy Park feel like home for all of our players.”