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Ruby Tui's response to World Cup omission earns praise of teammates
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Gladiator Jodie Ounsley walks away from rugby
By PA
Jodie Ounsley is stepping away from rugby to pursue other opportunities after securing early release from her Exeter contract.
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Ounsley has become more widely known as Fury on the successfully revived TV show Gladiators and had the distinction of being the first female deaf player to represent a senior England team.
Apart from playing for England sevens and the Chiefs, the 23-year-old also enjoyed spells at Loughborough Lightning and Sale Sharks.
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“Stepping away from the rugby field has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life,” Ounsley said.
“This sport has given me opportunities, friendships and memories that I could only have dreamt of, and I will forever be grateful to the wonderful community at Exeter for making this feel like home.
“Whilst I am excited for opportunities around the corner, this is certainly not goodbye and I will continue to be a fervent supporter of women’s rugby.
“With the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our sport.”
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Ounsley, a British Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, suffered a shoulder injury at the start of the current season and was sidelined for seven months before making her comeback for Exeter in the Allianz Cup last Saturday.
