Exeter-based Wealth
Management Company Brewin Dolphin, organised a special coaching session by two Exeter
Chiefs players with the Sidmouth Rugby Football Club which is celebrating its 130th
anniversary.
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| Photographs by Bruce Thomas of Image Creation - Terry O'Brien (Rugby Secretary of Sidmouth RFC) / Richard Kirk (Match and Player Analyst at Sidmouth RFC) / Dan Goddard (Chairman of Rugby at Sidmouth RFC) / Bob Smith (Coach) / Phil Dollman (Center/Full-back, Exeter Chief) / Sean Priestly (Assistant Director, Brewin Dolphin Exeter) / Ben Moon (Prop, Exeter Chief) / Mark Seward (Sales and Marketing Director at Sidmouth RFC) / / Bob Baugh (Second Team Manager at Sidmouth RFC) / Mark Beavis (Head Coach of Sidmouth RFC) / Phil Bye (Coach at Sidmouth RFC) |
Founded in 1884, Sidmouth RFC is
playing this season in the Western Counties West League. Brewin
Dolphin organised the visit by Chiefs first team players Phil Dollman and Ben
Moon to the club’s home ground to help prepare the Sidmouth Chiefs train for their
league game against Tavistock Away.
Sean Priestley Assistant Director, Brewin
Dolphin Exeter said: “As a
national company with local offices, Brewin Dolphin believes in supporting the communities
it is a part of. The various sporting
clubs based in Sidmouth do a fantastic job to both foster and develop local sporting
ability, mainly through the efforts of their members on a voluntary basis. Over the last few years, the Exeter office has
been providing on-going support and sponsorship to a number of these clubs in
Sidmouth, including football, rugby and cricket. We are delighted, therefore, to arrange this
unique opportunity to help celebrate this momentous milestone for the local
club. Exeter Chiefs is the West Country’s premier rugby club and it’s a great
way to help raise the profile of Sidmouth Rugby as well as offer a rare chance
for the squad to be coached by professional players. I particularly want to thank Chris Bentley
and Tony Walker of Exeter Chiefs for supporting us on this and Phil and Ben for
fully engaging with the team.”
A former Wales Under-18 International, Dollman (29) began his club
rugby with Bedwas before switching to the Newport-Gwent Dragons and then the
Chiefs in 2009. Signed by the Chiefs to bolster their Championship challenge,
he immediately helped them earn promotion to the Premiership in his first
season at the club. A Chiefs legend in the making; Phil, an integral member of
the squad from the championship days has been unfortunate to have not been
recognised at the international level following solid performances year on
year. Welsh by birth, Phil has adopted Devon as a second home and has played in
the first team backline in every position barring scrum half. Famous for his
dazzling footwork and pinpoint passing accuracy he is always one of the first
names on the Chiefs team sheet. Phil played
his 100 league game against the Wasps and has scored 16 tries in 131 games in
total for the club.
Team-mate Ben Moon (25) and Cullompton’s favourite son played for the
England's under 16's, under 18's and the 20's. He was part of the Ivybridge
Rugby Academy which is where he was signed by Exeter Chiefs, and he also was a
junior at the Cullompton Rugby Club. Ben
made his Chiefs debut at home to Sedgley Park in 2008. Since that time he has established himself as
a regular face in and around the Exeter first team.
The Colts joined
the Sidmouth RFC first team in two separate training sessions with the Exeter
Chiefs. Ben Moon focused on scrummage
and line out with the forwards, whilst Phil who has just agreed a new two-year
deal with the Aviva Premiership club, concentrated on strike moves with the
backs.
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| Phil Dollman (Exeter Chief) / Sean Priestly (Associate Director Brewin Dolphin) / Ben Moon (Exeter Chief) with the Sidmouth Rugby Football Club |
Chris Bentley – Corporate Sales at
Exeter Chiefs said: “It’s great for the guys to get out and
do a bit of work for local clubs and we’re really pleased for the support from
Brewin Dolphin in putting this all together. With a young team and new coaching
set up at Sidmouth still settling in we hope that Phil and Ben may have a few
pointers to give the team a winning edge in the weeks to come. With big
games to focus on at Exeter Chiefs later in November against Wasps and
Saracens, we hope that a few of the players may make the trip up to Sandy Park
to reciprocate the support!”
At the beginning of November, 93
members, guests and sponsors gathered in the clubhouse to celebrate the 130th
anniversary of Sidmouth RFC in the company of guest-of-honour Bill Beaumont
CBE, chairman of the RFU. Another notable guest was Exeter Chiefs and England
back row forward Thomas Waldrom which raised over £2,000 for the clubhouse
refurbishment fund.
Dan Goddard – Chairman of Rugby,
Sidmouth RFC. Comments, “It’s
great for our club when professional rugby players like Phil and Ben take a
coaching session and pass on their experience and expertise to the grass roots
of the game. Over the last week there has been a real buzz around the club; and
I am sure we will all have a great evening. Following recent good wins by our
1st XV and Colts teams we look forward to their session helping motivate us for
our upcoming games. We are delighted
that Brewin Dolphin has organised this special practice with the Exeter Chiefs and
given us this opportunity.”
Sidmouth Rugby Football Club is looking
for new players and welcomes participants at all levels of experience. Anyone
who is interested in joining and playing for a forward thinking club is urged
to contact Terry O’Brien on M: 07815757057 or
e-mail tobrien@sidmouthrfc.co.uk
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