Ex-England centre Ollie Devoto to play National League 2 rugby

Former England centre Ollie Devoto is set to take a significant step down in class as he stands on the verge of signing a contract to play in National League 2 West.

Devoto, who the Chiefs released at the end of last season, has been offered a player-coach contract by Taunton Titans.

Devoto was keen to continue living in the Exeter region and is also understood to have spoken to Plymouth Albion about a move down the A38 to Brickfields, but Taunton is set to sign him up.

Taunton Titans were relegated from National League One at the end of the season.

Born in Yeovil, Somerset, and raised in Sherborne, Dorset, Devoto started playing rugby at Sherborne RFC at the age of seven. He represented Dorset & Wiltshire at under-16 and under-18 levels and played for the South West under-16 side.

Devoto joined Bath’s academy at 16 and debuted for Bath’s first team in the 2012-13 season.

During his time at Bath, he was promoted to the first XV due to an injury crisis and made his debut in a Premiership match against London Wasps. He also earned the 2014 LV= breakthrough player award and would go on to make 85 appearances for the West Country club.

In January 2016, Devoto signed with Exeter Chiefs and contributed to their 2016-17 English Premiership victory before going on to earn 121 caps for the side.

Internationally, Devoto has played for England U19, U20, and the senior team. In June 2014 Devoto was included in an England XV for their match against the Barbarians and came on as replacement for his Bath teammate Jonathan Joseph.

He made his full Test debut for the senior England team in 2016 against Wales and was later called up for the Six Nations, where he made an appearance as a substitute against France.

He didn’t feature again for England, his last involvement with a training camp coming in 2020.