OUTGOING skipper Tom Collins says Devizes have proved they belong at South West level rugby after ending their home campaign with an emphatic 42-19 derby win over Swindon.

Collins, who steps back from the role in the summer after two years, believes the Saddlebacks have set themselves up for a bright future as they stayed in the hunt for a top-six finish in their first season in South West One East with two games to go.

“The main thing is that we’ve proved some people wrong and we’re a solid team in this division,’’ said the scrum-half, who will have knee surgery this summer but intends to continue playing.

“The more you put into something, the more you get out of it and we’ve worked really hard and done things like training programmes and monitoring players’ fitness that the ‘old’ Devizes would never have done.

“The whole mental attitude at the club has changed and that’s why we’re enjoying our rugby, so the future is good.

“There are a great group of lads at the club and these are very positive times.’’

Devizes have away games at Towcestrians (on Saturday) and Marlow to end the season.

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