Poppy Leight's battle scars are clearly visible. Photo: Tom Sandberg
«I'm the only person I know in women's rugby who has ears like mine,» says Poppy Leitch, captain of the Exeter Chiefs, enthusiastically. «Maybe I was born with soft ears.»
Leitch, a snappy second line who will lead her team to a second straight Premier 15s final this weekend, doesn't shy away from questions about her cauliflower ears. While this is common among male players (many remember Graham Rowntree's lumpy dishes or Martin Johnson's deep-fried discs), rugby's legendary fortune is a rare occurrence in the women's game.
Leitch, the eloquent 25-year-old who has capped seven times for England, is proud to buck the trend. Her bumpy ears are her hallmark, battle scars earned in what has been the most brutal season in the increasingly competitive women's top flight. Her right was deteriorating faster than her left after it had been in a fight three months ago.
“It was probably about five times bigger than it is now,” she says. “They pulled out six milliliters of blood from him, which is a lot for an ear. It's just blood in the ear — the reason it hardens is because the blood just dries up.» Poppy Leitch, who carries the ball here, was a figurehead for the Exeter team vying for Premier 15 glory against Gloucester-Hartpury. back to my ear, in fact, and it hurt so much. I cried at night. It was in the middle of the season, a couple of months ago. They memorized it because it kept exploding. They had to cut off my ear. It was terrible.”
«My mom, my dad and my partner hate them…but I don't care»
There are several reasons why cauliflower ears are when small pools of blood clot and block the flow of blood and nutrients after an injury. the outer part of the ear is such a rarity among female football players. Women tend to start late, while most players, such as Leitch's Exeter teammate Nicola Friday, reduce their risk by wearing scrum tape or caps.
«Nicola got her ears taped up and she's worried about them, which is funny because a couple of weeks ago she got a smaller size and I'm like, 'Nick, don't even talk to me about cauliflower.' My mom, my dad and my partner hate them, but I don't care if I look lousy when I play.”
Premier 15s final: where will the game be won and lost?
Leitch was a figurehead for an Exeter team determined to be better than last year, when they lost 43-21 to the Saracens. Despite finishing the regular season in second place behind Gloucester-Hartpury, the Chiefs have scored more tries per game (7.4) than any other team in the campaign and continue to have a thriving fan base at Sandy Park. «.
What a welcome when Poppy Leitch takes the team to the field.#EXEvHAR pic.twitter.com/wq4XfsvLuL
— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ ExeChiefsWomen) April 23, 2022
Susie Appleby's squad has done well in the Premier 15 since its debut in the 2020-21 season, but have raised eyebrows with the way they've recruited, with the core of their roster made up of players from the US, Canada and even New Zealand. Clubs will be required to field an average of 13 English-qualified players in the average matchday team next season — with points deducted and potential penalties for those who fail to meet this target. Leitch, who leads the Exeter University women's team and coaches Exeter Athletic, offers a diplomatic assessment of the situation.
“We have to remember that we still have very few people playing rugby, especially English women, who are ready to play in the Premier League,” she says. “As the level of rugby rises, we need the catchment areas to grow at the same rate, and they are probably a bit far from that at the moment. As the championship standard rises, naturally the transition to Prem becomes smoother. It has a lot of moving parts.»
«In terms of set design, it's going to be a bloodbath»
Her team should be at the top of their game against Gloucester-Hartpury in Kingsholm, which was aptly renamed Queensholm on Saturday to add another layer of polish to the event.
According to Leitch, the Premier 15s final can be tough. The most anticipated Premier 15 clash between two teams known for their attractive rugby, Exeter will aim to become the first women's top division team to win a league and cup double. «In terms of set design, it's going to be a bloodbath,» says Leitch. “Look at both our mauls, the scrum, even your five-meter pick-and-go game – there will be huge competition.”
She pauses briefly before adding, «If I had to have 10 cauliflowers, I would if it meant winning the Premier League.» If there was ever a way to quantify how much it would mean to win your first national title, this would surely be it.
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