Exeter Chiefs rugby stars show their talents off the pitch

Exeter Chiefs star Olly Woodburn reveals how he and fellow player Jack Nowell have teamed up to showcase a new fashion range

Fellow Exeter Chiefs player Jack Nowell reached out to Olly Woodburn to take pioctures of his new clothing range. Photo: Olly Woodburn (Image: Archant)

I first began this collaboration with Devon Life to showcase my love of photography with the additional hope that it would also break through the stigma of some people regarding athletes as one-dimensional characters who can only think with their muscles.

I know I speak on behalf of a lot of my teammates and friends at Exeter Chiefs when I say that our feats on the pitch can, at times, feel like the sum of our perceived achievements in life.

Not much is said for our talents outside of rugby (perhaps only when one of boys’ impressive bottomless beer belly sessions at Timepiece nightclub is caught on video!).

In all seriousness, you probably don’t know, for example, that Ben Moon is a woodworking wizard, or that Tom O’Flaherty is fluent in French, or that Jordan Poole is a qualified chef (and cooks a meaner than mean Beef Wellington), or that Luke Cowan-Dickie is a world class video gamer…

Fellow Exeter Chiefs player Jack Nowell reached out to Olly Woodburn to take pioctures of his new clothing range. Photo: Olly Woodburn (Image: Archant)

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Or that Jack Nowell is a fashionista. Well, actually, that’s not 100% true; I did see him sporting Crocs and socks just last week. He has, however, developed an impressive entrepreneurial eye when it comes to clothing and apparel.

Olly Woodburn was impressed with the quality and fit of Mustard garments designed by Jack Nowell. Photo: Olly Woodburn (Image: Archant)

After designing and manufacturing a new range for his recent venture with Cornish-born clothing brand Mustard, Jack reached out to me for help with photographing imagery for the launch.

I take real pride in the way I dress and I must give him credit for the quality and fit of Mustard garments – boxy tees, simple but well-cut designs and neat accessories. In a world where people are increasingly becoming sceptical and self-conscious of fast-fashion shopping habits, it’s refreshing to see a brand like Mustard get affordable but quality pieces so right.

Check out some of these images we captured from the shoot day – not bad for some beer-chugging muscle-mass right?

Find out more here about the full range of Mustard clothing

Olly Woodburn says: 'It’s refreshing to see a brand like Mustard get affordable but quality pieces so right' Photo: Olly Woodburn (Image: Archant)

Olly Woodburn is building a portfolio of quality photography away from his role on the pitch for Exeter Chiefs Photo: Olly Woodburn (Image: Archant)