Emily Tuttosi: Exeter’s Canada hooker reflects on World Cup final and progress of women’s game

Exeter Chiefs’ Canada hooker Emily Tuttosi said she struggles to believe how far the women’s game has come after playing in the World Cup final.

The 30-year-old started Canada’s 33-13 loss to England at Twickenham in September in front of a world record crowd of 81,885.

She played in all six of Canada’s games at the World Cup, starting five games and scoring two tries in a pool game against Scotland at Exeter’s Sandy Park.

“I actually played at Twickenham for Canada on my very first Canadian tour and we lost like probably by 80-something points and there was maybe a few hundred people in the stands because it was after a men’s game and they realised it was on,” she told BBC Radio Devon.

“So to have the experience of going to a sold-out Twickenham and walking in with there being so many eyes and so much energy, and singing the anthem in front of a packed stadium that was there solely for women’s rugby… That is something that will stick with me until the day I die.

“It was absolutely sensational to see that and that’s only eight years’ difference.

“That’s the type of crowds women’s rugby is drawing in, that’s the type of competition energy, sponsors, advertising even. It does really give some value to the graft that all of the athletes are putting in.”