Nationwide League Two West outfit Taunton have confirmed the signing of former England centre Ollie Devoto, as reported by RugbyPass.
The 30-year-old has joined the membership as a ‘entire membership engagement’, which Taunton chairman John Wrelton mentioned will see him “absolutely immersed in Taunton Rugby Membership and that would imply all the things from the business operations to assembly the underneath 7s on a Sunday morning.”
The 2-cap England worldwide introduced his eight-year stick with Exeter Chiefs to an in depth on the finish of final season, the identical time that Taunton had been being relegated from Nationwide League One.
Whereas his function on the membership will lengthen far past simply taking part in, the 2020 Investec Champions Cup winner mentioned that “the objective that now we have” is to earn promotion subsequent season.
Following a double hip operation in 2022, Devoto confessed that he knew his time on the Chiefs was coming to an finish final season, however harassed that he was “not able to cease” and “being a part of a rugby crew is a part of my DNA.”
Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Exeter Chiefs
Leicester
“With what I’ve had performed with each hips I knew my time at Exeter coming to an finish,” the Somerset-born centre mentioned after a return to his dwelling county was confirmed.
“I’ve had a incredible time at Chiefs, they’ve been sensible to me and I used to be fortunate to be a part of a really particular group of gamers that achieved nice issues.
“I’m not able to cease. As soon as the door closed with Chiefs, it was necessary to throw myself into a brand new atmosphere. I had a few months utterly away from rugby and I actually missed it. Being a part of a gaggle, one thing greater, is basically necessary to me.
“I’ve solely been right here a really brief time nevertheless it’s been all the things I wished it to be. Being a part of a rugby crew is a part of my DNA. My Dad coached me after I was youthful and my earliest reminiscences are of being in a minibus going to rugby.
“I’ve been actually impressed. Pre-season coaching has been powerful however the lads are getting match and the primary pre-season video games are only some weeks away. It’s been refreshing for me to satisfy a complete new bunch of fellows who’ve been actually welcoming.
“The environment is extremely optimistic. This membership must be up there profitable the league and that’s the objective that now we have.”
Wrelton added: “Ollie was launched to me by Tony Yapp. We met informally for a espresso, talked in regards to the ethos of the membership and it was beautiful to listen to that somebody from the skilled rugby sphere with such a widely known title would wish to come again to a West Nation membership and grow to be a part of it wholly.”
