Devizes RFC

Devizes RFC are delighted to confirm that Neil Loader will join the club as Head Coach for the 2023/2024 season.

Neil brings a wealth experience to the role, having coached numerous sides, renowned for their expansive, free flowing rugby.  Neil’s previous roles include coaching Rugby Parma under-21s in the Italian Top 10 Championship in 2003. He was head coach at L'Aquila Rugby and Rugby Lyons Piacenza in the Italian Top 10 and Serie A.

Neil then came back to England where he was Head Coach at nearby Swindon for four seasons.  Swindon were promoted to Level 6 and established themselves as a top 6 side under his tenure.  Neil then moved into the Cinderford Head Coach role in the 2014/2015 season.  Neil then moved back to more local roots, taking over as Head Coach as Salisbury negotiated a challenging National 3, Southwest league.

Since then, Neil has been involved in a couple of roles linked to Bristol Bears in coaching Academy players and mentoring coaches through the various RFU coaching courses. 

The club are really excited to see what Neil can bring to the table as we look to establish ourselves further at Level 6 and Level 8 for the men’s sides.

With Neil coming onboard, we will be saying thank you and goodbye to Joe Alford and James Gaiger once this season ends after the cup fixtures.  Joe and James have been a huge success in their roles supporting and coaching the men’s teams over the past few seasons.

Joe joined as Director of Rugby in the 2018/2019 season, supported by James as Heads Coach. Their first season at the helm saw Devizes make a big improvement on their 8^th placed finish in the 2017/2018 season.  The 2018/2019 saw the Saddlebacks finish 4^th in their first season at the helm.  Southern Counties South was proving a tough nut to crack, as in the 2019/2020 season, Devizes finished in 4^th place again after the remaining several round of fixtures were cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic it is to Joe and James’ credit that they kept the lads engaged and focused on continuing to develop as athletes.  With the 2020/2021 consigned to the history books by the pandemic, it was pleasing to see player numbers improve after the pandemic and at the end of the 2020/2021 ‘season’ friendly fixtures versus Melksham and Chippenham were extremely welcome.

Going into the first season after COVID, the foundations Joe and James had built in the prior 2-3 seasons stood them in good stead for the 2021/2022 season.  Devizes hit the season with a bang, with the players in probably the best condition of their playing careers and they did not look back, only losing twice throughout the campaign on the road to the Southern Counties South title.

This was the first time Devizes had won the title since the famous 2012/2013 season and indeed, the players and coaching staff celebrated long into the night (and for some, the proceeding days!).  In addition, the 2^nd XV were looking strong throughout this season, as players resources had improved and strength in depth across the board saw the 2^nd XV promoted following a post-Christmas resurgence.

Both sides were promoted, and this paved the way for a challenging but enjoyable season at Level 6 and Level 8 where the Saddlebacks finished in 8^th, just two points off 6^th.  The 2^nd XV also finished strongly to remain at Level 8 for another season.

A big thank you to Joe and James for their concerted efforts over the past few years – we look forward to seeing you on the terrace cheering on the lads in the coming months and years!