Local lad and England international signs up to play a part across the whole of Taunton RFC, from playing pitch to pitching to sponsors.

Local lad and England international signs up to play a part across the whole of Taunton RFC, from playing pitch to pitching to sponsors.

“It’s a statement of intent,” says Taunton RFC Chairman, John Wrelton, about the Titans’ latest and – arguably greatest ever – signing. Ollie Devoto.

The twice-capped England international centre was looking for a new rugby home after his nine year stay at Exeter Chiefs came to an end. During that time he rubbed shoulders with some of the best rugby players in the world, won the Premiership twice and the European Cup. It’s nothing short of a coup for Taunton RFC to have landed his signature.

But this is not a stunt, not merely an expensive ruse to get Titans back into National League One. Devoto’s signing is a whole club one with the player set to be involved in many aspects of the club’s operations.

“Ollie was introduced to me by Tony Yapp,” says Wrelton. “We met informally for a coffee, talked about the ethos of the club and it was lovely to hear that someone from the professional rugby sphere with such a well-known name would want to come back to a West Country club and become part of it wholly.”

The package that the club and Devoto have agreed extends far beyond simply turning up to play for the Titans. Wrelton underlines that it is a whole club engagement. Ollie is set to embrace everything from working with the juniors to assisting the commercial team with sponsors, from coaching sessions to participating in club fundraisers, not least those connected with the current 150th Anniversary celebrations.

The vision is a long-term relationship. Devoto can picture his children, if they get into rugby, training at Veritas Park on Sunday mornings.

“With what I’ve had done with both hips I knew my time at Exeter coming to an end. I’ve had a fantastic time at Chiefs, they’ve been brilliant to me and I was lucky to be part of a very special group of players that achieved great things,” reflects Devoto. Now, aged 30 and with many of that golden age of Exeter Chiefs having moved on from Sandy Park, it was time for him to seek a new rugby base.

“I’m not ready to stop,” he vows. “Once the door closed with Chiefs, it was important to throw myself into a new environment. I had a couple of months completely away from rugby and I really missed it. Being part of a group, something bigger, is really important to me.”

Don’t think for one moment that he sees it as a come down. There is fire in his eyes as he talks of how his new team-mates are keen to win the league this season and secure promotion at the first attempt back to National League One. Devoto has bought into that ambition. “I’ve only been here a very short time but it’s been everything I wanted it to be. Being part of a rugby team is part of my DNA. My Dad coached me when I was younger and my earliest memories are of being in a minibus going to rugby.”

Initially, when they were first introduced, Tony Yapp thought that they were just discussing a coaching role but Ollie made it clear that he wanted to play as much as possible. “I’ve got to get selected first,” he says modestly, to which Wrelton jokes that he might have to prove himself in the Warriors first.

“I’ve been really impressed,” Ollie says of his new team-mates. “Pre-season training has been tough but the lads are getting fit and the first pre-season games are only a few weeks away. It’s been refreshing for me to meet a whole new bunch of guys who’ve been really welcoming.”

“The atmosphere is incredibly positive. This club should be up there winning the league and that’s the goal that we have.” Asked what he makes of the general set-up, he’s not drawing comparisons with his Premiership experience. He sees the club for what it is, “I think it’s brilliant. I didn’t know the extent of the commercial side. That’s huge. It’s a brilliant ground, the pitch is pristine, the facility is fantastic.”

The physiotherapy unit at Veritas Park is also an undeniable attraction for him. “The physio, the osteopath here, I feel well looked after.”

John Wrelton, who has worked tirelessly to put together terms which would work for both parties, stressed that, “Ollie’s role is as a player, a coach and with full involvement at the club. The expectation and the relationship will be one where Ollie is fully immersed in Taunton Rugby Club and that could mean everything from the commercial operations to meeting the Under 7s on a Sunday morning.”

“For me,” concludes Devoto before changing for another gruelling training session under the hot sun, “It’s always been about family. That’s really important to me. I’m local. Somerset-born, I’m a West Country boy. Dad will come and watch. We’re going to be here long-term.”

Could there be better news for Taunton RFC on the cusp of their 150^th season of rugby? Wrelton described Devoto’s arrival as a ‘statement of intent’. Titans intend to top the league and win promotion. It promises to be an exciting season. Make sure you don’t miss a minute of it –head to the club website to secure your season ticket.

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