When Liam Devlin joined the Melton Rugby Union Club last year, it was all but dead.
The club had only a handful of members and was struggling to field junior and senior teams.
Twelve months later, it has nine teams and a rejuvenated committee committed to the Warriors’ future.
Mr Devlin, the club’s vice-president, describes the turnaround as a “huge achievement”.
“I’ve always felt as though rugby’s done a lot for me and I owe a lot to rugby,” he said.
Mr Devlin, who has been playing rugby union for almost two decades, says he loves the game’s inclusiveness.
“There are positions designed for people who have good ball control, positions for people who are a little bit bigger,” he said. “It really caters for any person of any shape, size or weight.”
The 29-year-old, who teaches grades 5 and 6 at Melton West Primary School during the day, is dedicating most of his spare time to the Melton rugby club.
Last week, he was nominated for a HSBC volunteer of the year award, putting him in the running to win $10,000 for his beloved Warriors.
Mr Devlin says he’s chuffed to have been nominated.
“I hope over the next couple of years the club takes full swing and I can put my feet in the air and enjoy the successes,” he said.
