Exeter Chiefs
Season Preview: Exeter Chiefs
Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald is hoping to keep the World Cup momentum going in the PWR as a new season in what she hails as the 'best league in the world' beckons.
The Exeter Chiefs hooker reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup with Ireland this summer and returns to the familiar surrounds of Sandy Park with her eyes on a different prize.
Having racked up a 50th cap for Chiefs as they finished third in the PWR Cup, Moloney-MacDonald is excited to get the league campaign underway.
“The level of competition [in the PWR] is the best you can get in the world right now,” she said.
“The league has got all the best players and it's brilliant for the fans to carry on the momentum from the World Cup.
“Anyone who watched those players from any of those countries and they now have the chance to watch them week in, week out here. It's really important to keep growing that momentum.”
Among the new arrivals at Exeter Chiefs is Black Fern Amy Rule, who featured in third-placed New Zealand’s World Cup quarter-final triumph over Moloney-MacDonald’s Ireland.
It means Chiefs fans will be treated to a depth of international stars among their ranks, including Red Roses and World Cup winners Maddie Feaunati and Cliodhna’s wife, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.
And having partaken in the post-Allianz Stadium celebrations, the pair were able to focus on resetting for the season ahead despite a quick turnaround.
“I've probably had a little bit more time than Claud,” admitted Moloney-MacDonald.
“We got away for a couple of days to Spain and we went back to Ireland to meet some of my friends in Dublin for a couple of pints of Guinness.
“We've had a chance to chill out once we got back to Exeter and sorted out our bags. But I'm looking forward to a bit more of a routine, to be honest.
“Just being in a house and going to training. It will be nice, as weird as that sounds, not being in a hotel.”
There is plenty to look forward to for Exeter, too. Having finished just outside the play-off spots last season, two points adrift of Bristol Bears, the side hope to benefit from fresh ideas at Sandy Park this term.
“We've changed how we're going to play this year,” explained Moloney-MacDonald.
“Oli Bishop [backs and attack coach] has come down, and he's put a bit more emphasis on skill and being able to move the ball around rather than being quite predictable or system-driven.
“The point of Oli’s philosophy is that he wants you to go out at the weekend feeling comfortable to decide on the pitch and pick the best option based on how you feel and what you think you're seeing.
“I'm really excited by that, but we've also just got a lot of exciting players coming, so I'm excited to see what they bring.”
Bishop arrives from Trailfinders Women, where he will return for their opening game of the season as Chiefs face the west London club on Saturday 25 October.
And while Moloney-MacDonald is relishing that first match-up to get the season underway, she has spotted big clashes across the league in what promises to be an unprecedented season.
“Everyone is going to be slightly different this year because naturally it's the end of that World Cup cycle and the start of a new one, so it's the perfect time to change things,” she said.
“We always have a bit of rivalry against Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol because they're kind of local.
“I'm excited to play Sale Sharks too. I think they're going to be exciting team this year.”
What's new at Exeter in 2025/26?
Amy Rule and Oli Bishop have not been the only new faces at Exeter Chiefs ahead of the new PWR season.
Fellow World Cup star Francesca Granzotto heads to Devon fresh from representing Italy at full-back in the summer’s tournament.
Gabriella Nigrelli has also made the switch from southwest rivals Bristol Bears, with the back-row having confirmed the move back in March.
The departure of Susie Appleby as head coach also left a vacancy in the coaching team with Steve Salvin appointed on an interim basis ahead of the new season, having being made assistant coach in 2021.
He will be ringing the changes alongside Bishop and team manager Keith Brooking as Exeter look to challenge once more for a place in the PWR play-offs come the end of the season.
Back-row Zoe Dare, wing Eleanor Hing, back-row Lola Whitley and hooker Sofia Bekir Fuente all join the Exeter ranks, while prop Alessia Skeates and centre Naomi Brennan have been handed their first senior contracts.
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