At Luctonians, we know that volunteers are the lifeblood of our club. They give their time, energy and expertise, often behind the scenes, to ensure everything runs smoothly. As a volunteer-led organisation, their efforts are at the heart of everything we do.
This summer, we were delighted to learn that one of our own was recognised for his dedication and long-standing service. Wayne Symonds was nominated By the Norh Midlands RFU for the Honda Volunteer Awards 2025, run by England RFU.
Wayne has been involved in almost every aspect of club life: coaching, committee work, ground maintenance, and much more. In June, he attended the awards ceremony with his son AJ. Although he didn’t win, we are extremely proud of his well-deserved recognition.
Wayne first became involved with Luctonians in 2016, when his son AJ wanted to try rugby. At the time, the U7s needed a coach, and Wayne was quickly nominated by Smithy to take on the role. Nine seasons later, Wayne is still coaching and continues to give back to the club in countless ways.
Reflecting on his time as a volunteer, Wayne said:
“Our great Club is made as special as it is by the people that are part of it and how they all work together; from the handful of employee’s, over a thousand members who play, support or both to the hundreds of volunteers. I’m one of those hundreds of volunteers and I feel privileged to be able to be part of this Club. Knowing that you’re helping to provide a range of sports to the community and giving opportunities to people of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds to partake or spectate in sports is something that always puts a smile on my face.
In addition to coaching, Wayne has played a vital role on several committees and recently completed a three-year stint as Director of Youth Sport. Speaking on his volunteer journey, Wayne added:
“When I look back at the years, I recall the other volunteers that I’ve bumped into both here at our Club but also at other Clubs. Like all volunteers, you end up doing other things here and there to help out- that’s what our Club does, it makes you want to help as much as you can. You want to be part of something bigger and know that your bit is helping not just those you see but the wider Club too.”
As his time as Director of Youth came to a close, Wayne was nominated and accepted the role of Vice Chair of the Club, a position in which we look forward to working closely with him.
We are extremely proud of Wayne’s nomination and recognition, but more than that, we are proud of all our volunteers. Quite simply, Luctonians could not function without them. Their hard work, dedication and passion continue to drive the club forward, ensuring that Luctonians remains the place to be.
