McMahon, Tuttosi and five others confirmed as Exeter Chiefs Women's departures

Exeter Chiefs Women will part ways with seven players at the end of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season, with former Ireland captain Edel McMahon and long-serving Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi among the most prominent names on the departure list.

McMahon, 32, has been at the Devon club since 2022 but missed the entirety of this season after undergoing surgery on both knees. The rehabilitation also ruled her out of Ireland’s squad for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, where the team finished third.

Tuttosi, who joined Exeter in their inaugural season, leaves as one of the club’s most decorated servants — 88 appearances and 31 tries across her time at Sandy Park. She will return to Canada to take on a coaching role.

Also departing is Canada international Abby Duguid, who announced her retirement from rugby at the end of this season. Duguid is set to move to Edmonton, Alberta, where she will work as a teacher and join the fire service. Wales international Hannah Bluck and homegrown prop Abby Middlebrooke — who made 32 appearances over six years while studying at the University of Exeter — are also leaving, as are midseason arrivals Eleanor Febrey and Ellen Scantlebury. Middlebrooke has signed for another PWR club ahead of her graduation.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin paid tribute to the outgoing players. “All these players are internationals who have served us so well over the years,” he said. “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.”

Of McMahon, Salvin added: “Tricky is a true 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.”

He also praised Duguid, who arrived at Sandy Park to help cover an injury crisis: “She was a welcome addition to our squad and fully contributed to our campaign this season.”

The departures come as rivals Loughborough Lightning announced the signing of five Canada internationals for the 2026/27 season, a move their head coach Nathan Smith described as a “statement of intent”.