NEWLY-crowned national amateur player of the year, Nick Hancock, will be hoping to inspire other people to take up rugby on Sunday morning.
Prop Hancock did not take up the game until he was 43 years-old but has since helped former Devon Two strugglers Plymouth Argaum to two successive promotions and to a top half finish in the Cornwall/Devon League last season.
On Sunday, the 49-year-old, who is now chairman of Argaum, will be helping to run a ‘Return to Rugby’ programme at the University of St Mark and St John.
The programme is designed to try and encourage anyone over the age of 18 to either give rugby another go or take it up for the first time.
The session at Marjons on Sunday starts at 10am and anyone, male or female, is welcome to just turn up and have a go.
Hancock has never regretted walking into the clubhouse at Argaum nearly six years ago – even though he was nervous at first.
His amazing success story was nationally recognised on Thursday when he was awarded the amateur player of the year trophy at the National Rugby Awards.
Hancock admits he was totally shocked when his name was read out at the glittering ceremony at Twickenham.
“I still can’t believe it,” he said. “I thought I had no chance as other nominees were National Two players in their 20s.
“When my name was called out everything just went into a blur for 15 minutes.”
During that time Hancock had to make a speech to a packed room. Afterwards he was inundated with people coming up to him congratulating him, including former England prop Jeff Probyn, who Hancock has invited down to Argaum.
Hancock even got the chance to wear an Olympic medal.
“The England Sevens team were there and I got a photo of me with James Rodwell. He’s holding my trophy and I’ve got his Olympic silver medal around my neck. I told him that my trophy meant as much to me as his Olympic medal would mean to him.”
Among the other celebrities Hancock got a picture with was England player Chris Robshaw, who was the ambassador of the National Rugby Awards.
More information on Argaum’s ‘Return to Rugby’ programme can be found HERE.