AFTER Taunton Titans earned their status as a National One rugby club last season, head coach Tony Yapp has spoke about the season coming up.

For the last 13 years, Yapp has been involved with Taunton Rugby Club and will continue in his role as head coach for 2023/24. Squashing any rumours he is leaving.

That being said, there will be some changes to how things are run within the coaching team at Taunton RFC.

Recently, Yapp was made the head of rugby at Blundell’s School and the former Exeter Chiefs fly-half saw it as an opportunity he could not turn down.

Both Taunton RFC and Yapp himself stressed that this appointment will not compromise his dedication to his work at Taunton.

He will remain with the club and will still be fully involved in training on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings when the work is done to prepare the team for Saturday’s National League One fixtures.

The change will come on Saturdays when he will be required to be on school duty and therefor it is likely that there will be a handful of Titans matches that Yapp will miss.

He will be fully involved in the preparation and selection of the squad for those games and will then turn over the match-day responsibilities to fellow coaches Chris Brown and Gary Kingdom.

“There is a already a great relationship between the school and Taunton RFC,” stressed Yapp.

“And it works in both directions, there is a clear pathway into senior rugby for our schoolboys, as well as the Titans and Warriors being able to select quality young players I have worked with for a number of years.”

Chairman of Taunton RFC, John Wrelton added: “Tony’s promotion at Blundell’s reflects his quality as a coach and how respected he is. Blundell’s has got an immense rugby offering and to have that link is fantastic for us.”

"He wants to be involved. The club wants him to be involved. So, although he won’t be available on some Saturdays mainly before Christmas, we’ll still have his input, knowledge and dedication when it matters in training. We will make it work.”

Finally, Yapp added: "It’s really important to emphasise that we still have the pathway through from Blundell’s School to training and playing with a National One club here at Taunton. It means a bit more work for me but I’m fully committed to making it work.”