Rule ready to face Black Ferns former house mates

Exeter Chiefs Women’s prop Amy Rule will come up against her former house mates and fellow Black Ferns Alana Borland and Georgia Ponsonby when Trailfinders come to Sandy Park on Saturday.

The three Black Ferns are firm friends but will become adversaries this weekend for Chiefs’ crucial PWR round 14 game against the Ealing outfit.

Rule, who made her PWR debut against Trailfinders in round one of this season’s competition, said: “That first game was weird. Coming off the bench, I was definitely seeking for them to see if I could put in a wee cheap shot!”

She added: “It's going to be interesting. Hopefully, I’m named to play! I think it's cool to see my friends doing great and enjoying their time there, but when we get onto the pitch, they're not my friends!”

Rule has played in nine more league games since that debut, scoring two tries along the way as she has settled into life as a Chief Woman.

“It feels like a lifetime go, that first game. I think my biggest learning would have to be week in, week out, we're actually coming up against very different oppositions. You have to be able to process the game pretty quickly and move on to the next job.”

Like Borland and Ponsonby for Trailfinders, Rule signed a full contract with Chiefs, while other Black Ferns have come over as short-term injury replacements.

She explained: “I've been through two World Cups. I've had an incredible time with the Black Ferns. I've loved my time with New Zealand rugby. I just think PWR was just calling my name in the sense of I wanted to play more rugby.

“I wanted to live overseas. I want to see the world. I want all the experience and opportunities that it has to offer. But yeah, I think the big reason was the games.

“I love it. I just, I love playing rugby, so I've really enjoyed it. So overall, yeah, it's been epic.”

Chiefs go into Saturday’s Mother’s Day weekend fixture in third place on 36 points. However, Trailfinders are just four points behind in a congested mid table vying for the third and fourth spots behind Saracens and Gloucester Hartpury on 55 points apiece.

Chiefs beat Trailfinders on that opening day of the season when the women in green were still finding their feet as a team. Saturday will be a different prospect though with Trailfinders potentially calling upon their superstars from across the world, including England’s Meg Jones and Abi Burton, Scotland’s Rachel Malcolm, Francesca McGhie and Emma Wassell, USA captain Kate Zackary, Canada’s Julie Schell, plus more Black Fern action from Maia Roos.

The 25-year-old said: “They do play quite an expansive and exciting game. I think they like to play edge to edge. I think they do have a really solid set-piece. I think they've got attacking threats across the park. We can't really highlight just one player or a couple of players. I think for us it's been to focus on our processes and our systems and making sure we nail our roles when we need to.”

After two tough games on the road against the top two in the PWR, Rule and the rest of the squad will return to Sandy Park this Saturday for their penultimate home league fixture of the season.

“I love Sandy Park and I love Exeter in the sense of the rugby community we have here. I love the superfans. I think it's a really rich history and culture of how much we love the game because I guess I bond over the same feeling of loving the game so much. Yeah, it's been awesome. I love home games. It’s great to have a place like this called home.”

Watch the full interview video below to find out why Amy Rule’s nickname is Cutter but also follow this link to purchase your tickets for Saturday (KO 12:30). Tickets for adults are just £11 while young people aged 17 and under can catch up with a plethora of Rugby World Cup stars for just £1.