Player interview: The player we almost lost to golf!

Naomi Brennan made her 21th appearance for Exeter Chiefs women last weekend three years after making her debut as a second year university student. It is easy to forget how young she is as it feels like she has been around the environment for longer. Now in her fourth season, Brennan started Saturday’s game as she looks to further her career in Chiefs colours.

But Brennan could have potentially been lost to golf! Before then golf came along, she began playing rugby at her older brothers’ club, Egremont RUFC, where her dad was also a coach and who she credits for setting her on the right track with fundamental skills. However, when she reached U12s, she ran out of players to play with and against. Brennan did not pick up rugby again until she was 16, so had to find another sport to keep her occupied.

“I was actually a very keen golfer. I took it very seriously and used to play for the county and North England. I often think that I could earn more money playing golf, and get less bruises and injuries, but it’s just quite individual, and I missed that team element.”

Brennan did not return to rugby at a local level, she headed to the Hartpury College rugby factory, following in the footsteps of fellow successful northern women’s players, Abi Burton, Ellie Kildunne and Mia Venner.

“When I was looking for options for sixth form, I just knew I wanted to take something more seriously. At the time, you had likes of Ellie Kildunne, Abi Burton and Mia Venner on the scene. They were the young, upcoming players and I was wondering, ‘How are these 18…19 year-olds getting these opportunities?’

“I remember hearing one of the games on commentary and then they were talking about Hartpury College and I was like, where is that? I just looked online and saw there was an open day. I just like loved the idea of having an insight into the professional game.”

Brennan followed in the trailblazing northern bootsteps of those Red Roses, but it was not an easy move. As a 16-year-old, she was so far from home and her first year was also amid the Covid era so she could not start when the academic year began and she could not go home for eight weeks when the second lockdown hit.

“It was tough. Being on campus and not being able to leave your bubble was a good way of throwing you in the deep end. But I definitely learned some lessons, just keeping myself accountable for what I can control.”

Rather than stay on and study at Hartpury University, Brennan headed Exeter to study sport and exercise medical sciences, having received the legendary persuasive chat from head coach Poppy Leitch following a game at Sandy Park.

“I remember coming to a Chiefs game. She sorted tickets for me and my nan. We watched the game and then I chatted with Poppy after. Even at the time, I remember thinking, ‘She is like a superwoman’. She’d just played a full game and then talked to me and my nan for 45 minutes about the programme.”

This was the start of three years of bleeding green for the University. She made it to the BUCS Super Rugby final in 2023 and became captain in her final year.

“In my first year, we were the underdogs as they'd literally just been promoted. We were just riding that wave and got to the final. It was obviously a tough outcome, but it really felt this was something I really wanted to be part of.”

As a captain, Brennan’s gentle, nurturing soul definitely came to the fore.

“I would say I’m definitely good at connecting with people, and I think in a university environment, that's crucial for people who might not have played before. I made sure they knew what they needed ahead of the game and just checked in around the pressures of uni to strike that balance. We're all under our own pressures, but once we're on the pitch, we're all aligned in what we want to achieve.”

Brennan’s debut for Chiefs then followed in her second year.

“It was always something I had really my sights set on. To be involved in the Cup during that time was really special. It was again another reminder to just bide my time a little bit and take every opportunity as it comes

“But when I went back to the uni side, I never saw as like a setback. I was going back with things to work on in a more comfortable environment.

“I felt like I was ready to graduate into Chiefs last year, but you don't have that university fallback, but we did have Champs to play for. You feel like you need to prove yourself repeatedly, but it's also worth reminding yourself that you are still very young and we're still in that U23s umbrella.”

Brennan, who is now helping to coach the BUCS 2nds with Gabby Cantorna, added: “The standard of the Championship is so good. You're playing almost a similar standard, to be honest, physicality wise. Compared to BUCS, it is a step up, but being able to connect with some of the uni girls that I might have helped out at coaching in the preseason or played with is good too. You get the opportunity to work on what you want to with a team you still really care about.”Enter your text here