Former Exeter and England centre Ollie Devoto has said he knew he was “not done” with playing, ahead of joining Major League Rugby side Chicago Hounds in the new year.
The 31-year-old made 127 appearances for the Chiefs during an eight-year spell with his hometown club before leaving in the summer.
He has since been representing fourth-tier outfit Taunton Titans, who play in National League 2.
“I expressed it quite clearly that I wasn’t done playing yet and I had a couple of years at Chiefs where I had some big injuries, I didn’t play and I was sat on the fence – do I continue to play or not?” Devoto told BBC Radio Somerset.
“Right now, the body feels really good and I’m really excited to play.”
Devoto won two Premiership titles during his time in Exeter, as well as the 2020 European Champions Cup, and was capped twice by England in 2016 and 2020.
He missed most of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons because of a knee injury, but played 13 games for the Chiefs last season before leaving.
With Taunton the closest outfit to his home, he decided to step down the pyramid and join them with the idea of taking on a player-coach role.
“I ended things with Exeter, had a great eight years down there at the Chiefs, then had a conversation with Yappy [Tony Yapp] who is head coach here,” Devoto said.
“He expressed a position of coach, mainly coaching the backs. I said to him I was still keen to play and so got stuck into pre-season and here I am now.
“I’ve played more than I’ve coached but that’s been my decision and it’s just to keep fit.”
