TAVISTOCK Rugby Club is celebrating this week, after its first team secured promotion to the Western Counties (West) League — the highest position a club side has ever reached in its 40 year history.
Tavistock came equal third with Truro in the Devon and Cornwall League, but believed they would miss out on promotion as the Cornish side had scored more points.
But due to Henley two sides merging, several leagues higher up, space was created in the lower leagues — to Tavistock's advantage.
Nigel Larcombe-Williams, TRFC chairman, said: 'It's wonderful news, I'm just so chuffed.
'The guys really do deserve it. They are a very young team — the average age has dropped by ten years this season and they are all local lads — this is a great day for us.'
Nigel said the first team had gone from strength to strength this season and the players' success was testament to the excellent coaching now provided at TRFC — and a belief in bringing on members through the club ranks, rather than bringing in players from other clubs.
'You have to have trust in your young people. They have shown huge commitment and they really deserve this — and I also think it's great for the town.
'If you join Tavistock Rugby Club you know that if you are good enough, you can make it to the first team,' he said.
Tavistock's success means they join West Devon's other premier rugby side, Okehampton, in the Western Counties league. Okehampton had already secured promotion in fine style, having clinched second place in the league.