​Former England international Ollie Devoto, who has represented Bath and Exeter Chiefs, has announced his retirement from professional rugby. Devoto earned two England caps and enjoyed a successful eight-year spell with the Chiefs, during which he helped the club secure two Premiership titles and the 2020 European Champions Cup. In the past two seasons, the 32-year-old has been playing for Major League Rugby side Chicago Hounds in the United States.
“I think for me and my family, it’s probably the right decision to call it a day,” Devoto told BBC Radio Somerset. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of years since leaving Exeter. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to go out to America. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, and to take the family over was very special.”
Devoto’s career began in Yeovil, after which he moved to Sherborne RFC before turning professional with Bath. He later joined Exeter, becoming part of the squad that claimed the club’s first Premiership title in 2017 and then achieved a league and European cup double in 2020. “I was very fortunate to be part of such a strong squad at the time,” he reflected. “What made it so successful was just how close we all were as a team.”
After leaving the Chiefs in 2024, Devoto had a brief spell with Taunton Titans, a fourth-tier side playing in National League 2, before heading to the United States. He described rugby in the U.S. as an “up-and-coming” sport, noting that many people still do not know what rugby is, which he found refreshing, even though the setup in America was “amazing.” “I can’t speak highly enough of it,” he added. “If anyone gets the opportunity to head over, grab it with both hands.”
Born in Yeovil, Devoto began his career with Sherborne RFC before moving to Bath and making his professional debut there. He then became part of Exeter’s historic era, contributing to their first-ever Premiership triumph and their 2020 double. Devoto’s decision to retire marks the end of a notable chapter in English rugby, but his experiences in the United States will remain a distinctive postscript to a career that delivered both domestic glory and European success.