Two years after if was unable to field a senior side because of a lack of players, Melton Rugby Union Club could possibly field two teams this year.
More than 50 senior players have been training during the off season, leading the club to look at the idea of having a reserves side for the first time.
Club vice-president Liam Devlin said about 10 more players were needed to make a second team viable and he was excited by the possibility.
“The numbers have kept growing – we have a record number of people training,” he said.
“With so many players, it’s hard to give everyone game time and we want everyone to play.
“If we can get a few more interested players in the next couple of weeks we’ll look at having a reserves side in division 3.
“A lot of people in the Melton area are interested in getting involved in rugby union. How can you say no to them?”
It’s a long way from the start of 2015, when the club went into recess for 12 months because it did not have enough players.
Last season, the Warriors won the B-grade minor premiership, before losing in the grand final to Ballarat.
Devlin said it wasn’t only the open-age group in which the club was seeing growth.
He said they were looking at having multiple teams in various age groups, after having one team in each age group last season.
“There’s been huge growth in the under-12 and under-14 age groups,” he said. “We’re looking at definitely having more than one team in the under-12s.
“The under-14s were at the benchmark to have a second side, so we’re looking at having two teams.
“There’s a good chance of having two under-16s teams, as well.”
The senior side has had a good off season including a 68-0 win against Ballarat in a grand final rematch.
Anyone interested in playing at Melton Rugby Union Club in any age group can contact Liam on 0457 008 476.
