Exeter Chiefs sign 17-cap Wales prop Maisie Davies from Bristol Bears for 2026/27

Exeter Chiefs have signed Wales loosehead prop Maisie Davies from Bristol Bears ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women’s Rugby season, the club confirmed. The 20-year-old made 10 appearances for Bristol in her debut English top-flight campaign and brings 17 international caps to Sandy Park.

Davies’s rise through the game has been rapid. She converted from the back row to the front row ahead of the 2024 U20 Women’s Summer Series, earned her Test debut later that year at WXV 2, and went on to make three appearances for Wales at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Exeter assistant coach Oli Bishop was effusive about the signing. “Maisie has incredible potential and at 20 she has so much room for growth,” he said. “She is incredibly talented and also a great person, so I feel certain she will add so much to Chiefs this coming season. We now have three international looseheads in our squad, which shows the talent and depth we are trying to build so we can hopefully kick on from a very decent season.”

Davies will face competition for the starting jersey from USA international Hope Rogers and newly capped Scotland prop Demi Swann, giving Exeter a formidable depth of options at loosehead.

The Wales prop said she was drawn by the prospect of continued development. “I’m really excited to be joining Exeter Chiefs — it felt like the right place for me to take the next step,” Davies said. “I’m still young and know there’s plenty more for me to learn, so I’m looking forward to challenging myself in a new environment and seeing how much I can develop as a player.”

Davies is the third arrival at Sandy Park this offseason, joining Trailfinders Women’s Shya Pinnock and Bristol’s Tilly Ryall. The club is currently operating without a permanent head coach following Steve Salvin’s departure to join Sean Lynn’s Wales squad as senior forwards coach.