Ex-Ireland captain and Canada front-row among Exeter departures list

Former Ireland captain Edel McMahon and Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi are among the seven players leaving Exeter Chiefs at the end of this season.

McMahon, who has been with the club since 2022, has missed the entirety of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign after surgery to both of her knees.

The rehabilitation from those surgeries has also meant that the 32-year-old did not represented Ireland in their third-place finish at this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Emily Tuttosi, who has been with the club since their inaugural season, will return to Canada to take on a coaching role. She scored 31 tries for the Devon club in 88 appearances.

It was announced yesterday that Canada international Abby Duguid will retire from rugby at the end of this season before moving to Edmonton, Alberta, to teach and take up a position with the fire service.

Steve Salvin, Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach, said: “All these players are internationals who have served us so well over the years. Emily has been at Chiefs longer than I have. She is experienced, she is hard-working and the very epitome of a team player on and off the pitch. She will be sorely missed.

“Tricky [McMahon] is a true an ambassador for the women’s game. She has been through adversity with her injuries but has always come back stronger while remaining a positive influence from the sidelines.

“Abby arrived at Sandy Park to help us overcome an injury crisis. She was a welcome addition to our squad and fully contributed to our campaign this season. As with all our players leaving us at the end of the season, I wish her well.”

Homegrown prop forward Abby Middlebrooke has signed for another PWR club ahead of her impending graduation from the University of Exeter. She made 32 appearances in six years at Sandy Park.

Wales international Hannah Bluck will also leave Chiefs, as do midseason arrivals Eleanor Febrey and Ellen Scantlebury.