THE Devon Rugby League, which meets tonight (Wednesday 10 February), is welcoming several new members as it bids to establish yet deeper roots in the south west.
Phil Johnson, who was instrumental in forging a partnership between his Torquay club Devon Sharks and Wigan Warriors which will embrace the `Embed the Pathway’ programme, is joining the committee and will help spread that initiative to other schools in the county.
Steve Alexander, who serves on the Devon Rugby Union Competitions Committee, is also coming on board and will bring expertise gained in managing the Devon RFU Colts at Under 18s and Under 16s to the table.
And Exeter Centurions captain Stef Archer, who was a member of the Devon side that beat Cornwall in the 2015 Martin Roddy MBE Trophy County of Origin Series, will add further strength to the committee.
Chairman Lee Kirkman, meanwhile, will remain in situ, while allowing new blood to have its head.
He said: “I have been involved with local Rugby League for ten years now and have been with Devon Rugby League since its foundation in 2010.
“I feel it is high time that somebody else took it forward and the committee we are building has enough talent to do just that.
“The people who have joined the set-up so far were pinpointed because of their key skills; the future development of the game in Devon requires a natural progression from our club sides into the county arena.
“We can, united under the main umbrella of Devon Rugby League, continue to spread the game, whilst the people we are targeting can build teams from the juniors up.”