Ollie Devoto

Oliver Jonathan Devoto (born 22 September 1993) is an English rugby union player, who plays for Exeter Chiefs as a utility back primarily as a centre and fly-half.

Ollie Devoto
Birth nameOliver Jonathan Devoto
Date of birth (1993-09-22) 22 September 1993
Place of birthYeovil, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
SchoolThe Gryphon School
Bryanston School
Occupation(s)Professional rugby union player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Fly-half, Full-back
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2000–2012 Sherborne RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2016
2013
2016–		 Bath Rugby
→ Cornish Pirates
Exeter Chiefs		 85
0
62		 (60)
(0)
(55)
Correct as of 30 May 2017
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013
2015–
2016–		 England U20
England Saxons
England		 7
3
2		 (8)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 05 February 2020

Early life

Devoto was born in Yeovil, Somerset and grew up in Sherborne in Dorset. The Devoto surname is of Ligurian descent (ref reqd). Ollie was educated at The Gryphon School in Sherborne.[1] Devoto started playing for his local club Sherborne RFC from when he was seven years old and stayed there through all of their age groups.[2] While with Sherborne, Devoto represented Dorset & Wiltshire at under-16 and under-18 levels and played for the South West under-16 side.[2] Devoto was picked up by the Bath Rugby academy at the age of 16, and was granted a sixth form scholarship at Bryanston School.[3]

Club career

Bath Rugby: 2012–2016

An injury crisis during the 2012–13 season amongst Bath's backs saw Devoto promoted to the 1st XV squad, and he made his first team debut as a substitute in Bath's Premiership match against London Wasps on 8 September 2012.[4]

On 1 March 2013, Devoto joined RFU Championship side Cornish Pirates on a dual-registration deal but didn't make an appearance for the Penzance-based club.[5]

In March 2014, Devoto was named 2014 LV= breakthrough player for his performances in the 2014–15 LV Cup, as part of the award his former club Sherborne RFC received a £1,000 donation.[6]

Devoto played for the vast majority of Bath's 2015 Premiership final loss to Saracens, replacing the injured Anthony Watson after seven minutes.[7]

Exeter Chiefs: 2016–present

On 15 January 2016, Devoto signed for fellow Premiership side Exeter Chiefs on a three-year contract ahead of the 2016–17 season.[8] He started the final as Exeter Chiefs defeated Wasps to be crowned champions of the 2016-17 English Premiership.[9]

International career

Devoto having previously represented the England U19 development team,[10] was called up to the England U20 side for the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. He made his debut off the bench as his side overcame France 40–10. After impressing in that performance, he was selected at full-back in the final two matches of the tournament, as his England side beat Italy and Wales to retain the Six Nations trophy. Devoto was then included in England's squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship, scoring a try in England's record 109–0 victory over the United States.[11] He was a replacement in the final as England triumphed over Wales and lifted the World Championship title.[12]

In June 2014, Devoto was included in an England XV for their match against the Barbarians. Devoto came on as a replacement for his Bath teammate Jonathan Joseph and played for the last 21 minutes in England's 39–29 defeat.[13] On 21 January 2015, Devoto was included in the England Saxons squad for the first time for a match against their Irish counterparts.[14]

Devoto received his first call up to the senior England squad by new coach Eddie Jones on 13 January 2016 for the 2016 Six Nations Championship.[15] On 29 May 2016, Devoto made his England debut as a substitute in England's 27–13 win against Wales.[16]

After Harlequins' promising centre Joe Marchant was ruled out of the Argentina Tour through a toe injury,[17] Devoto was called up as an injury replacement following a good performance in Exeter's 23-20 Aviva Premiership final win.

Devoto was selected as a substitute in England’s opening match against France in the 2020 Six Nations.[18]

References
  1. "England 29–39 Barbarians: Sherborne and Bath Rugby's Ollie Devoto impresses on England debut". Blackmore Vale Magazine. Blackmore Vale Media Ltd. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. "Ollie Devoto – Full-Back/Fly-Half, Utility (2012/13)". cornish-pirates.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  3. Asprey, Beatrice (1 September 2013). "Hotshots: Meet young Bath rugby star Ollie Devoto". Rugby World. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  4. "Bath 30–23 Wasps". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  5. "Cornish Pirates sign two more Bath players on dual-registration". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  6. "Bath's former Sherborne rugby ace Ollie Devoto backed to earn full England honours". Western Gazette. Local World Ltd. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  7. James, Steve (30 May 2015). "Bath 16 Saracens 28, Premiership final match report: Owen Farrell lights up Twickenham with brilliant display". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. "Ollie Devoto: Exeter sign Bath back on three-year deal". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  9. "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  10. "Ollie Devoto". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  11. Goff, Alex (13 June 2013). "England humbles USA U20s 109–0". RugbyToday.com. United World Sports, LLC. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  12. Standley, James (23 June 2013). "Junior World Championship: Wales U20 15–23 England U20". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  13. Rees, Paul (1 June 2014). "Experienced Barbarians claim narrow win but England's youngsters impress". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  14. "Six Nations: Nick Easter and Danny Cipriani in England squad". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  15. "Six Nations 2016: Josh Beaumont in new-look England squad". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. "England 27–13 Wales". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  17. "Joe Marchant & Paul Hill out of England's tour to Argentina". BBC Sport. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  18. "BBC News, Sport,".
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