Foreign stars to help Exeter Chiefs "hit the ground running"

Exeter Chiefs have been forced into the foreign transfer market as they prepare for their first season in the Women's Premier 15s.

The club have confirmed they will be recruiting players from countries such as Japan, New Zealand, the United States, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands as they attept to put together a competitive squad from scratch.

However, the bulk of the side will still be made up of players from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Head coach, Susie Appelby, told BBC Sport: ""[Chairman] Tony Rowe expects you to win the league in year one. He is getting his head around the women's game and how it all works, the need for accommodation, the need for jobs."

The current global pandemic has hindered Appelby in her recruitment plans. She added: "Trying to persuade someone to come and play in an imaginary team and imaginary club because we can't invite them down to visit is quite challenging. Contracts should be finalised within the next week or so, and then we'll probably start announcing players,"