Former Oxfordshire player Ben Thompson was delighted to line up for Devon against Yorkshire in the County Championship final at Twickenham - despite ending up on the losing side.

The 27-year-old fly half, who hails from Horspath, received a surprise late call-up for Sunday's county showpiece.

A former Exeter University and Exeter Chiefs player, Thompson was asked to join the squad by Devon and Plymouth Albion coach John Roberts, who he had played under at Exeter.

"It was my first game in the competition this year," he explained.

"It was a bit of a random phone call on Wednesday saying we are struggling to cover ten and full back on the bench, and we have a young side, so we are looking for a bit of experience.

"He said do you fancy playing on Sky Sports and at Twickenham?"

Thompson, who has played for Nottingham for the last four years, and who also plays cricket for Horspath, was only too happy to accept and joined up with the squad at their hotel in Egham, before taking part in a training session on Saturday evening.

Coming on as a replacement for Plymouth Albion fly half Danny Hawkes after about five minutes of the second half when Devon were trailing 18-6, Thompson was unable to turn the tide as Yorkshire ran out 33-13 winners.

"They had just scored twice and we had to play catch-up," he said.

"We crept back into it, but they were a bit too powerful. Devon used it as a development side and Yorkshire had some old heads.

"I really enjoyed it. It is a great place to play rugby. It is the first time I have played there since the South Stand has been completed.

"It makes it a fantastic rugby arena - there are not many better in the world.

"It was disappointing to lose, but I was looked after well by Devon and it was good fun."

Thompson was making his fourth appearance at English rugby's headquarters, having played in two BUSA Championship finals with Exeter University - beating Northumbria and losing to Durham - and playing in the Exeter Chiefs side which lost to Orrell in the Powergen Shield final.

And now he's looking forward to another big match this Saturday - when he gets married to Ali Latham, a physiotherapist with the English Institute of Sport, at Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire.