Three Exeter Chiefs Women earn England call-up

Exeter Chiefs will have three representatives in England’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations squad after Maddie Feaunati, Claudia MacDonald, and Flo Robinson were named in John Mitchell’s 37-player squad.

The trio were part of the four-day Red Roses camp last week and have retained their spots for the tournament. The squad includes a mix of seasoned internationals and fresh talent, with Gloucester-Hartpury and Saracens players also featuring following the conclusion of the PWR season.

Back-row Feaunati will be looking to add to her 10 caps after making her England debut in January 2024. Meanwhile, MacDonald’s inclusion is a remarkable comeback story - after suffering a serious neck injury in February 2023, her future in rugby was in doubt. But after a strong return for Chiefs, the 32-cap back is now in contention for England’s opening match against Italy on Sunday, 23 March.

“I’m really excited to be back with the squad and training; it’s an incredibly inspiring environment,” MacDonald said. “We are all focused on this tournament and preparing as well as we possibly can.”

For Robinson, this call-up is the latest step towards her first full England cap. Having moved to Harlequins two seasons ago to further her international ambitions, she returned to Chiefs and has been a standout performer this season.

“I’m really excited to be involved in the squad and to continue learning alongside great players and coaches,” Robinson said.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s assistant coach Steve Salvin praised the trio: “It’s great to see Maddie, Claud, and Flo in the Red Roses squad. Claudia’s return is a testament to her resilience, while Flo’s inclusion reflects her fantastic performances for us this season.”

In another major development, Exeter Chiefs Women have confirmed that highly regarded coach Oli Bishop will join the club ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Bishop, who boasts 11 years of experience in the top tier of women’s rugby, previously worked at Wasps Women before moving to Trailfinders as defence coach. He has also been involved in school, university, and international coaching, working in Ireland, New Zealand, and with various sevens squads.

Chiefs CEO Tony Rowe CBE said Bishop’s arrival is part of a wider restructuring at the club: “Oli’s appointment, alongside new training facilities, will help us build towards a strong 2025/26 season.”

Salvin added: “We’ve wanted to bring Oli to Chiefs for some time. His expertise in defence, skills, and attack will be invaluable.”

Bishop, excited to get started, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to join Exeter Chiefs Women. This squad is full of talent, and I’m looking forward to helping develop the team’s attacking play. It’s an evolution, not a revolution, and I can’t wait to contribute to the club’s continued growth.”