RAAKAI Maxwell has revealed how his season turned around after making the most of his workplace.

The Chinnor back row man was in outstanding form for Oxfordshire against Berkshire on Saturday and played a big role in his club's title push.

But this was a far cry from the autumn when the New Zealander struggled to even make Chinnor's bench.

Maxwell said: "I was really overweight when I first arrived. I was 116 kilos.

"I work at the David Lloyd centre in Oxford as a lifeguard and I started running there every day.

"I got down to 99 kilos and that made a big difference to my game."

Maxwell made Chinnor's No 6 shirt his own after Christmas, but is equally at home at No 8 as he showed against Berkshire.

He said: "I felt really dizzy out there on Saturday and I was struggling at times in between the runs I was making.

"But as the soon as I got the ball it just changed again.

"It felt really good after the game, though, when all the guys came and patted me on the back."

Maxwell, 22, played rugby league until the age of 18 in his native Wellington, but is glad he made the switch.

"In Wellington, rugby league was not very well organised," he said. "I just found union to be more serious."

He joined Chinnor after spending some time in London and has found Oxfordshire very amenable.

Maxwell said: "It has been really good. I've met a lot of good people through the club and work.

"People are really friendly compared to London. In London I found they were always in a hurry."

Maxwell is weighing up his options for next year because National League rules mean Chinnor can field only two foreign players.

But if he does move on, he would love to end his time in Oxfordshire with a Twickenham appearance.

He said: "I would love to play in a big stadium as I have only done that in league before."