Crapper first came to Forbes in March 2013 and has played full back for the club, boosting their outside back ranks for the last two years. 

His contribution to the team was recognised on Saturday at the Forbes Rugby Club’s presentation where he was awarded best back for the season. 

In 2012 Crapper flew to Australia with “no real plan” and was picking fruit in Queensland when he received the invitation to join the Platypi. 

While he had never been to Forbes, Crapper had played a season with local Jeff Stewart, who had travelled to England to play a year with Crapper’s club, the Oxford Harlequins.

He says his time in Forbes has given him the adventure and experience he was looking for. 

“It’s been great I couldn’t have asked for anything better really,” he said. 

“Everything that I wanted in Australia was here.”

As well as his time on the field, Crapper has worked a variety of local jobs, as a farmhand at Moxey’s dairy, as a trade assistant for Trevor Williams and later for Shead and Nicholson as well.

He says he enjoyed living in the country, especially in the off season when he could go water skiing. 

“If I lived in a city it would have been different,” he said. 

“I wouldn’t have gone skiing in summer, and everyone’s friendly and laid back in the country.” 

While a “few niggles” and injuries might prevent Crapper from playing football for the Harlequins, if he does return, he will join Forbes player Kyle Sharpe on the field who flew to England last week for the season.  

Crapper said what he will miss most about Forbes is the friends he has made here. 

“It’s the people that make the place,” he said. 

On October 24, Crapper will leave Forbes and spend two weeks travelling around Australia before flying home from Darwin in November.