Skeates steps up for her third start in the PWR Cup

University of Exeter product Alessia Skeates has swapped books for boots in her first professional season for Exeter Chiefs Women.

Having spent three years bleeding green for the university, she accepted her first professional contract in the spring before beginning 12 weeks of pre-season with the club. Her efforts have been rewarded with three starts at tight-head prop in the PWR Cup.

The 21-year-old, who qualifies to play for Italy and England, said: “I think it's been intense. The days are really long. And the rugby is hard. We've changed quite a lot of things this year, but I think it's all really positive. It's the next step that I wanted, so I think it just comes along with that. They [the coaches] definitely have pushed us, which we will appreciate...I think!”

Having begun playing at Durham Johnson Comprehensive School at 11 years old, a coach at Houghton-le-Springs RFC spotted Skeates at a tournament and encouraged her to join the club.

A mobile forward, Skeates initially played in the back row, earning county honours and a place at the North-East & Cumbria Centre of Excellence.

Skeates was persuaded to become a prop by University of Exeter coach Poppy Leitch. She helped the university side to the BUCS final as a fresher followed by two consecutive semis, but now she is mixing it up with senior professional players.

She added: “It's been amazing, playing against people that you aspire to be like or that you've seen playing for ages. Being on the same pitch as them is pretty inspiring.”

Skeates amassed 30 tries across her three years with the University’s team and scored her first try for Chiefs against Gloucester-Hartpury two weeks ago.

She continued: “Sometimes I get a bit of white line fever, but yeah, I think that's my specialty, going a metre out and running over a couple of people!”

Now Skeates and her team-mates face Trailfinders Women as they both vie for a semi-final place in the PWR Cup. It will be the first time Chiefs’ backs and attack coach Oli Bishop will face his former team.

Skeates said: “I think it's going to be a really fast-paced game. They're going to be a really tactically challenging team, but I think that we've prepared for that. Obviously, we've got a bit of inside knowledge from Oli…maybe. But I think it's going to be a real challenge and Sandy Park is a big pitch, so they're definitely going to try and run around a bit, but I think we're prepared.”