Jodie Ounsley

Professional rugby player Jodie Ounsley is not just making an impact on the pitch but has also gone viral for opening up about being deaf.

Hailing from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, Ounsley - who joined the Chiefs from Allianz Premier 15s rivals Sale Sharks in the summer of 2022 - is an inspiration for youngsters up and down the country that being deaf doesn't have to effect your sporting dreams.

Alongside her success with the England Sevens team, besides Jodie has formerly been crowned Young Deaf Sports Personality of the Year, she has now gone viral on TikTok for sharing what it is really like living as a deaf woman.

Growing up, she was an active child but despite taking an interest in rugby, it was in other sports that she initially excelled. Following in the footsteps of father Phil, a former professional mixed martial artist, she become a British Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion before representing the UK in athletics at the Deaf Olympics.

Later her brother suggested she gave rugby a go and she hasn't looked back since. She has built quite the huge fanbase and on TikTok has raked in more than 3.8 million views.

She made her Chiefs debut in the Premier 15s clash against Gloucester-Hartpury in November 2022.