Woodburn out to capture perfect moment

By Mark Stevens
8/4/23

If you know Olly Woodburn well enough, you know he’s a man who loves to capture the moment perfectly.

Not only is the Exeter Chiefs winger an avid, lifestyle photographer, but on the field he continues to increase his exposure, producing a series of eye-catching displays that have helped propel the Devonians onwards and upwards this season.

Today, the 31-year-old returns to the Chiefs starting line-up for their mouth-watering Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final encounter against the DHL Stormers looking to further enhance his and Exeter’s reputation amongst Europe’s elite clubs.

“It’s exciting and the vibe around the squad this has been really good, especially coming off last week [against Montpellier],” said Woodburn. “Although I didn’t play last week, the atmosphere was just incredible and hopefully it gives us the momentum to really kick on over the rest of the season.”

In what has been an up and down campaign to date for the Chiefs, Woodburn has himself shown a real consistency within his game, producing a plethora of performances that have earned him rave reviews from his peers and pundits alike.

His aerial game is amongst the best in the business, whilst his finishing skills continue to shine on a regular basis. It’s little wonder he remains a key component within the make-up of the Chiefs moving forward.

Indeed, the former Bath flyer says focusing on himself and his own wellbeing has helped his longevity at Sandy Park in a side that has made six Premiership finals and regularly been amongst the country’s high-flying clubs.

“I’ve been naturally lucky with the attributes I’ve had - I’m strong and quick - but I think throughout your career to stay at a high level you need to adapt and change your approach to the game,” he said. “I’ve become a lot more disciplined with my diet, my routines, my attitude towards doing things on and off the pitch.

“I’ve also put a lot of emphasis on my mindfulness and the mental side of it, so just being a bit more professional I guess as I get older, and not just relying on athleticism.”

Whatever Woodburn is doing, it’s clearly working for him and for the Chiefs in a lot of ways. And with a Champions Cup semi-final on the cards for today’s victors, the gifted back is hoping to add to his European exploits.

“European games are always fun for me, especially the away ones,” he says.“I like to visit different places, different cultures and see how life goes on in other parts of the world. Playing-wise, you also get to challenge yourself against different players, different styles and even different refs.

“Coming up against the Stormers, it’s going to be tough. I’m expecting it to be physical and to be fast, but equally I try to focus mainly on myself. If you starting looking at others, that’s when you’ve lost your focus. There’s a quote ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ - so if you’re always comparing yourself to others, you’re not going to be in a good place. What I’ve done over the last couple of years is look back at what I do best and really try and focus on my strengths and bring that to the game.”

Despite winning two Premiership titles and a Champions Cup crown, Woodburn remains hugely ambitious in terms of his future goals. Indeed, he says young son, Solly, is a real inspiration for him to further himself.

“I’ve got a little boy who motivates me hugely,” he says. “Right now, he doesn’t know too much about rugby, but in years to come it will be great to share some of the memories with him. Bringing him into the changing rooms post-game, things like that, it’s fun for me and special for my family to have that connection. I just want to enjoy every minute of it.”