Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025: Interview with Emily Tuttosi

Introducing Emily Tuttosi

Ahead of the Women’s World Cup 2025, we took the opportunity to catch up with Emily Tuttosi, hooker for Chiefs and Canadian International. Here’s what she had to say….

Please can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello, my name is Emily Tuttosi and I am a Canadian rugby player who has been with the Exeter Chiefs for five going on six seasons.

You have been a Chiefs since they began...what has changed since you first pulled on the black jersey?

One of the biggest changes has been the visibility of the women’s game. There were no spectators allowed due to Covid and minimal club games streamed that first season. Since then, venues are seeing thousands of attendees, many more clubs are streaming games, and there are weekly televised matches. It all seems like the perfect build up to England hosting the World Cup this summer.

What have been your best memories as a Chief so far?

There have been plenty of good memories both on and off pitch, but some of my favourites are when we ended Saracens’ win streak and beat them for the first time, beating Bristol in our first semi-final, and I do feel a lot of joy every time rehabbers make their way back into a jersey.

Women’s rugby as a sport for both participants and spectators is gathering pace, especially with a Rugby World Cup coming to England this summer. What do you hope will be the legacy from the tournament for both players and fans?

I can get goosebumps thinking about the impact this tournament will have. I hope the legacy is that the world sees, accepts, and embraces that this is the minimum standard for a Women’s World Cup. The tournament will be loaded with fast and skilful gameplay, superstars, and sold out stadiums - I can’t wait to see the ripples this spectacle will create.

Having lived in England for so long, does it feel like your second home? And how exciting is it to be playing in ‘second home’ World Cup where most of the ground will be familiar to you?

England does feel like a second home to me at this point; there are people and things I miss about Canada, but I am so grateful to be a part of a team like the Chiefs and a community like Exeter. I am looking forward to playing at a couple venues I have played at before, but I also think it will be cool to experience venues I haven’t been to. The exposure to high level games at pitches there aren’t typically women’s premiership games is important to spread the quality product to both current and prospective rugby fans.

You have one game scheduled for Sandy Park…that really is home from home. Tell us how you are feeling about this fixture and fans coming to visit your adopted home city? What should they expect from Exeter and Sandy Park?

This game is going to be fantastic. We haven’t played Scotland since 2018, so it should be an exciting clash. Something I love about the South West is how hungry for people are for rugby. Exeter fans have shown up and keep showing up for the Chiefs, so I am excited to have them cheering us on, on the international stage and seeing their familiar faces in the crowd. Anyone coming to this game can expect a full house, lots of noise, and exciting rugby. Last round of pool play there could be a lot at stake, so both teams will be giving it their everything.

What are your hopes for Canada for the tournament?

My hope is to be lifting the World Cup on September 27th. A cohort of the players we have now remember that feeling of falling short in a semi-final. We are a driven team that knows nothing comes easy, but we are committed to putting in the work and striving for victory.

What are your hopes for Exeter Chiefs Women next season? (You have played 74 games for Chiefs and scored 29 tries)

I’m hoping that as a squad we can find our identity again and have a season that builds start to finish. We have a wealth of talent from near and far, so hoping the athletes competing in the Prem Cup can have a solid run and when we are all back together can get to work for what promises to be another season of competitive rugby.

What would you say to a fan who comes to Sandy Park to watch a World Cup game but has not been to see Exeter Chiefs Women as yet?

Get to Sandy Park for a game! Our team is loaded with such a diverse group of talent, and it’s a great afternoon out. There are stalwarts of the game on every team that comes to town, so come along, sit on the edge of your seat, and cheer your heart out.

You have been vocal about rugby not just being a ‘boys sport’, what advice would you offer to women and girls who are looking to get involved in the sport?

Rugby can change your life in big and small ways - just give it a try. The friends you make, the confidence you gain, the places you can go; coaching girls and women is an absolute privilege for me to be able to see this year after year. Your body is your superpower - everyone has something that makes them a threat on the pitch.

Do you have a particular piece of technology that aids your training or life in general? (This could be an app that helps with productivity, a device that monitors your vitals during training, or even something you use to help with recovery.)

I am part of the minority without any of the smart technology. I have my basic Casio watch for timing my sessions, and my Goodr sunglasses are the best ones I have found for staying on during some very sweaty runs!

Published: 15th August, 2025