Allianz Premier: Canadian Tuttosi scores in English women’s rugby final

Canadian international hooker Emily Tuttosi scored in a losing cause on Saturday as the Exeter Chiefs were beaten 34-19 by Gloucester-Hartpury in the Allianz Premier 15s women’s rugby final.

Canadian prop DaLeaka Menin also started for Exeter, who lost the final 43-21 to Saracens last year. The Chiefs had hoped to double the league and cup this year after winning the Allianz Cup in May.

Tuttosi scored behind a driving maul in the 28th minute and the conversion gave Exeter a 7–5 lead. But Gloucester-Hartpury led 17-7 at the half and added to the scoring early in the second half with a penalty try that resulted in wing Claudia MacDonald being sent to the sin-bin for deliberately putting the ball out of play hit in the endzone.

Kelsey Jones, Rachel Lund, Sarah Beckett and Lisa Neumann scored tries for Gloucester-Hartpury. Emma Sing kicked a penalty and two conversions.

Liv McGoverne and Ebony Jeffries also scored tries for Exeter. McGoverne and Gabby Cantorna each kicked a conversion.

The final drew a record crowd of 9,668 spectators.

Gloucester-Hartpury (16-2-0) led the regular season before beating the Bristol Bears to advance to the final at Kingsholm Stadium, which was renamed “Queensholm” for the occasion.

Exeter finished second in the regular season, beating Saracens in the semifinals.

Only Saracens and Harlequins had previously won the English title since the league’s inauguration in 2017.

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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 24, 2023