Exeter Youth Rugby Club

Rugby doesn't get much grassroots than this. Exeter Youth Rugby Club is where the city's young players learn the game - proper tackle technique, teamwork, the lot - on actual playing fields rather than in some corporate facility. It's a working sports club first and foremost, not a tourist attraction, but if you're staying nearby and want to see genuine community sport in action, it's worth popping down to watch a match or training session.

The club runs age groups from under-6s right through to under-18s, so depending when you visit, you'll catch different levels of play. Weekend matches are your best bet for atmosphere. You won't find much in the way of facilities or hospitality - this is local Devon rugby, not Twickenham - but that's precisely the appeal. It's authentic.

Who should bother? Families with rugby-mad kids will get a kick out of watching youth matches and seeing how the club operates. Adult rugby enthusiasts curious about grassroots development will find it interesting. Everyone else? Honestly, unless you're genuinely into the sport, you'll find an hour of a youth training session fairly hard going.

Since opening hours and admission aren't confirmed, ring ahead before you visit. It's based in Exeter proper, which means it's within easy reach of Castle Brake Holiday Park or the glamping options at Devon Heaven Hideaways and Cuckoo Down Farm if you're making a broader Devon trip. Good for breaking up a holiday rather than a destination in itself.