Tony Yapp Confirms Taunton RFC Future

It’s one of the time-honoured traditions at the end of a rugby season that the rumour mill starts to spin that bit faster. Whilst Taunton Titans was battling against relegation from National League One the speculation was flying around, not least about Head Coach Tony Yapp. Now, with the phenomenal final day thrashing of Leeds meaning that his team avoids the drop, the time has come for Yapp – and Taunton RFC – to clear up his situation.

Many fans will know that Yapp has been involved at the prestigious Blundell’s School in Tiverton for the last thirteen years, the same length of time he has been Head Coach of the Titans. During that time his role at the school has grown, as has the rugby programme which is widely recognised as one of the best in the country for developing schoolboy talent. Recently the position of Head of Rugby at Blundell’s became vacant and Yapp applied for the role. From a field of over fifty applicants the former Exeter Chiefs fly-half was interviewed and ultimately offered the post.

It's an opportunity that affords Yapp not only the exciting chance to develop a renowned high caliber rugby programme but also a full-time position and therefore security for his family. Both Taunton RFC and Yapp himself are at pains to stress that this appointment will not compromise his dedication to his work at Taunton. He will remain with the club and will still be fully involved in training on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings when the work is done to prepare the team for Saturday’s National League One fixtures.

The change will come on Saturdays when he will be required to be on school duty. Blundell’s only plays rugby during the pre-Christmas term though so, when one factors in school holidays and the vagaries of the fixture list, it is likely that there will be a handful of Titans matches that Yapp will miss. He will of course be fully involved in the preparation and selection of the squad for those games and will then turn over the match-day responsibilities to the experienced and safe hands of fellow coaches Chris Brown and Gary Kingdom.

Over the last decade Taunton RFC has benefited massively from Yapp’s involvement at Blundell’s with a number of the school’s alumni following a well-trodden path to Veritas Park including Greg Kitson, Ben Oliphant-Thompson and, this season, try-scoring sensation Noah Fenton. To have this link with such a renowned production line of rugby talent is undoubtedly an asset, the envy of many rival clubs.

“There is a already a great relationship between the school and Taunton RFC,” stressed Yapp. “And it works in both directions, there is a clear pathway into senior rugby for our schoolboys, as well as the Titans and Warriors being able to select quality young players I have worked with for a number of years.”

Chairman of Taunton RFC, John Wrelton, commented, “Tony’s promotion at Blundell’s reflects his quality as a coach and how respected he is. Blundell’s has got an immense rugby offering and to have that link is fantastic for us.”

Whilst the Titans were involved in the relegation battle neither the club nor the coach wanted to announce Yapp’s promotion at Blundell’s lest it lead to accusations of him being anything less than fully focused on the task of overhauling Esher’s points total. One needs only look at the results – significant wins over Chinnor, Hull, Leeds, Darlington Mowden Park and, especially, Rosslyn Park proving that Yapp’s attention was in no way diluted.

“Tony and I have had several discussions,” continued Wrelton, “to set out the best way of managing his continued senior involvement. He wants to be involved. The club wants him to be involved. So, although he won’t be available on some Saturdays mainly before Christmas, we’ll still have his input, knowledge and dedication when it matters in training. We will make it work.”

“From my point of view,” repeated Yapp, “It’s really important to emphasise that we still have the pathway through from Blundell’s School to training and playing with a National One club here at Taunton. It means a bit more work for me but I’m fully committed to making it work.”

There can be no doubt that Tony Yapp has done a lot of work over more than a decade to make progress with Taunton RFC to get the club to where it is today. That work involves a lot more than what most fans and members will see on match days. The hard yards are done in player recruitment, retention and welfare as well as the coaching of a large squad of rugby players many of whom have already worked a full day by the time they arrive at Veritas Park. There’s every reason to believe that this exciting new position for the Titans’ Head Coach will ultimately only serve to strengthen what he brings to Taunton RFC.

‍