By MARK CASHMAN

It was one of those sliding doors moments that happen throughout any player’s rugby career and Eastern Suburbs backrower Archie Gavin is more than happy with the way that things have panned out.

The 22-year-old was battling away for a spot in the centres in the Beasties fourth and fifth grade sides when third grade boss Elliot Frawley tapped Gavin on the shoulder at training one Tuesday night at Woollahra Oval.

Frawley told Gavin that his way up the grades might be quicker if he switched positions and headed into the forwards. 

The next Saturday Gavin was turning out in the backrow for the thirds and things gathered momentum from there.

Within a month he was starting in the reserve grade side that eventually made it’s way to the 2019 grand final only to be pipped by a star-studded Sydney Uni side.

Gavin has bounced around position wise throughout his rugby career, starring as a scrumhalf until he was 16 and then making a mark as a centre at Scots College and then the Beasties colts.

Now a little over 18 months on Gavin is a vital part of the Shute Shield squad and looking forward to playing finals once the season gets up and running again.

The competition for spots will get a bit more cut throat in coming months with players of the calibre of Waratahs Will Harris and Charlie Gamble coming back to club footy.

Throw in the likes of Dean Oakman-Hunt, a player close to Easts most consistent forward this season, and James Donato and it’s a pretty handy backrow contingent.

“I just want to make the most of my time in first grade and contribute in some form or other as the seasons heads towards the finals,” Gavin told Rugby News.

“I’m just loving this season and the way that things have panned out. I’ve come through the system here at Easts and dad played here a bit.”

Dad of course is Wallaby great Tim and there are a few more Gavins in the wings with younger brother Harry playing first XV at Scots and another Toby on his way back from a shoulder injury.

The Gavin family have property (Goonambi) near Gunnedah on the Liverpool Plains and Archie reports that thankfully Tim has been flat out in recent times harvesting his cotton crop.

“I played my first Shute Shield game in Round One this year (against Southern Districts at Woollahra) and dad had to watch it on Stan Sport back in Gunnedah,” Gavin added.

“I’d like to head back and have a crack at working on the land, that is if they’ll have me back.”

Easts coach Pauli Taumoepeau says that Gavin is almost the perfect hybrid player.

“He grew up playing in the backs but his genes are in the forwards. So he has a bit of both worlds about his game,” Taumoepeau said.

“His ball carrying abilities especially on the edge has been great for us. 

“He also has a great work rate in defence and that has seen him pull off some huge double plays for us.”

The pandemic has been hard to cope with but Gavin is lucky to still be out there and working as an electrician while the wait for the footy to return.

“Sydney Uni have set a pretty high benchmark so we are all chasing them,” Gavin added.

“The rest of the other teams (Easts included) are just so close and every win that we have got this year we have had to fight for.

“The team that wants it most are the ones that are going to do well.”

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON