Oliver Devoto Bio
Oliver Jonathan Devoto (born 22 September 1993) is an English rugby union player who currently plays for the Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby. Standing 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) tall and weighing 103 kg, he is recognised as a utility back who operates primarily at centre, with the versatility to cover fly-half and full-back. Over the course of a senior career that began in 2012, he has played in England’s top flight, won major honours in Europe, and represented his country at senior international level.
Early Life and Background
Devoto was born in Yeovil, Somerset, and grew up in the nearby town of Sherborne in Dorset. The Devoto surname is of Ligurian origin, a reference to the region in northwest Italy. He was educated at The Gryphon School in Sherborne before later attending Bryanston School on a sixth-form scholarship arranged through rugby.
From the age of seven, Devoto played for his local club Sherborne RFC, progressing through every age group at the club. While at Sherborne, he represented Dorset and Wiltshire at under-16 and under-18 levels, and was also selected for the South West under-16 side. His form in those representative teams brought him to the attention of the Bath Rugby academy, who signed him at the age of sixteen.
Path to Rugby
Joining the Bath Rugby academy at sixteen gave Devoto a professional pathway and a structured education at Bryanston School, where he balanced sixth-form studies with daily training. He continued to develop through Bath’s age-group sides before being fast-tracked into senior rugby.
His path to the Premiership was shaped by both opportunity and perseverance. An injury crisis among Bath’s senior backs during the 2012–13 season created the opening that brought him into the first-team squad, allowing him to make his Premiership debut in September 2012 at the age of eighteen. A brief dual-registration loan to Cornish Pirates in 2013 added further experience, even though he did not feature for the Championship side.
Oliver Devoto Career
Early Career at Bath (2012–2016)
Devoto’s Premiership debut came as a substitute in Bath’s league match against London Wasps on 8 September 2012. In March 2014, his performances in the LV= Cup were recognised when he was named the 2014 LV= breakthrough player, with his former club Sherborne RFC receiving a £1,000 donation as part of the award.
By the 2014–15 season he was a regular in the Bath first team, and in the 2015 Premiership final against Saracens he replaced the injured Anthony Watson after seven minutes and played the bulk of the match. Although Bath lost the final, the experience marked him out as a player ready for the next step of his career.
Exeter Chiefs Breakthrough (2016–2024)
On 15 January 2016, Exeter Chiefs announced the signing of Devoto on a three-year contract, ending his time at Bath. In his first season at Sandy Park he started the 2016–17 Premiership Rugby final as Exeter defeated Wasps to become English champions for the first time in the club’s history. The following season he was part of the Exeter side that lifted the final edition of the Anglo-Welsh Cup with a win over his former club Bath.
His Exeter career peaked in 2020, when he came off the bench in the 2020 European Rugby Champions Cup final as Exeter defeated Racing 92 to become champions of Europe. A week later he started the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby final as Exeter beat Wasps to complete a historic league and European double. His final Exeter trophy came in the 2022–23 Premiership Rugby Cup final against London Irish, after which he departed the club in May 2024 having scored 21 tries in 127 appearances across an eight-year spell.
Chicago Hounds Era (2024–Present)
Following his departure from Exeter, Devoto joined Major League Rugby side Chicago Hounds ahead of the 2025 MLR season. The move gave him the chance to continue his career in a new rugby environment and add an international dimension to his playing CV.
Driving Style and Strengths
Devoto’s value to his teams has come from his versatility across the back line, where he has been deployed at centre, fly-half, and full-back. His 1.91 m frame and 103 kg physique allow him to compete physically in the midfield, while his time at Exeter showed an ability to read game situations and contribute to attacking patterns in both domestic and European competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Standout moments include starting the 2016–17 Premiership final, coming off the bench in Exeter’s 2020 European Champions Cup triumph, and playing in the league-and-European double that followed. His two senior England caps, the first against Wales in 2016 and the second against France in 2020, complete a career of consistent top-level involvement.
Oliver Devoto Career Wins
Across his club career, Oliver Devoto has been part of several major winning sides in English and European rugby. His trophy highlights include an English Premiership title, the last Anglo-Welsh Cup, a European Champions Cup, and a Premiership Rugby Cup, all won during his time at Exeter Chiefs.
Premiership and European Highlights
Devoto’s most celebrated club win was the 2016–17 Premiership title with Exeter, the first in the club’s history, in which he started the final against Wasps. Two seasons later he experienced the high point of European rugby, lifting the Champions Cup after Exeter beat Racing 92, and then a week later helped complete the double in the Premiership against Wasps. The 2022–23 Premiership Rugby Cup final win over London Irish was his final honour in an Exeter shirt.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the senior finals, Devoto’s earlier honours include the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship with England U20, the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship, and the 2016 England A series victory in South Africa. At Sherborne RFC and through Dorset and Wiltshire representative teams, he also built the foundations of his competitive career.
Oliver Devoto Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The Devoto surname is of Ligurian origin, a connection to the coastal region of northwest Italy. Otherwise, the public record offers limited detail on his immediate family, and he is known primarily for the family rugby connections forged through Sherborne RFC, where he played from the age of seven.
Personal Life
Devoto grew up in Sherborne, Dorset, and has built much of his adult life around rugby environments, from Bath and Exeter to his current base with the Chicago Hounds. He is active on social media under his professional name, and his career has taken him from southwest England to the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Oliver Devoto’s 2025 campaign is being played out with the Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby, a new chapter in a long English and European career. The Hounds offer him the chance to apply his Premiership and Champions Cup experience to a developing league and to extend his playing career abroad.
For 2025, Devoto is expected to serve as a senior figure in the Chicago back line, capable of playing centre, fly-half, or full-back as required. His ability to cover multiple positions gives the Hounds tactical flexibility throughout the Major League Rugby season.
Following eight years and 127 appearances at Exeter Chiefs, where he was part of a side that won a Premiership title, a Champions Cup, and additional silverware, Devoto now has the opportunity to be a key contributor in the United States. The 2025 season represents a fresh start and a chance to add a Major League Rugby chapter to an already decorated resume.