Schoolboy’s dedication to Kirkcaldy Rugby Club recognised by Scottish Rugby

Murray Oliver (14), a player with the Blues’ U15/16 squad, was presented with the Mitsubishi Young Volunteer of the Year award at the Six Nations match against France at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The Balwearie High School pupil, who describes the club as a “second home”, started as a Wee Blue aged three, an age group he now helps to coach.

In addition to this he is one of the youngest grade 2 referees in the country.

He also organises the ball boys/girls for all 1st and 2XV matches, while on Saturdays, he regularly assists the Beveridge Park groundsman with pitch set up and preparation from early morning, before moving onto water boy duties/tee kicking and runner duties with the 1st XV – both home and away.

Murray is also behind much of the club’s social media output – tweeting updates, posting team line-ups, as well as carrying out pre and post game interviews with players and coaches.

He is also looking at new and innovative ways to raise the club’s profile through social media platforms – with some of these reaching in excess of 10,000 views.

In between these duties he can often be found round about the clubhouse glass collecting or doing any job needing done.

Murray has also been promoting rugby with Balwearie HS, encouraging boys and grils to give it a try and join the club. He also helps assist the after-school touch rugby for primary schools in the Balwearie cluster.

The Scottish Rugby Development Awards celebrate and recognise the efforts of players, coaches, match officials and volunteers from the domestic game across all five regions of Scotland

Scottish Rugby’s Regional Director for the East Region, David Drummond said: “It’s so important to celebrate the achievements of the hard-working volunteers we have in our game and Sunday was all about recognising and rewarding their dedication to our sport.

“Across both regions, we have so many passionate and committed people who give up so much of their time to help others take part in rugby. Sharing the day with them, presenting them with their award and getting to know our winners and their guests was both a privilege and inspiring.

“On behalf of everyone at Scottish Rugby, I’d like to thank them for their contribution to the game and congratulate them on their thoroughly well-deserved award.”