YOUNGSTERS from Whittington CofE School spent a day learning the rugby skills they would need to be Worcester's stars of the future.

As part of the Sportsmatch Tag Rugby scheme, the Worcester Warriors community team have delivered a structured program of coaching to around 60 children from years three, four and five in the 36 participating county schools.

In all, more than 2,000 children have enjoyed the benefits of receiving expert coaching from the Warriors community team, with many of them experiencing rugby for the first time.

The effects of this program has seen numbers at this age group rise by up to 5.4 per cent in many local clubs.

Worcester Warriors community development manager, Dan Zaltzman, said: "The enthusiasm for rugby that this program has created has exceeded all of our expectations.

"In order to harness and expand on this interest, we are encouraging schools to integrate Tag Rugby into their curriculum.

"The schools can do this by delivering a number of `teach the teacher' sessions throughout the county and we have more of them planned for the summer term, thus ensuring the sustainability of the program."