RUGBY fanatics from a Rossendale high school were given a special treat this week when they took part in a training session with England internationals.

Students from Alder Grange Community High, in Rawtenstall, travelled to Camberley RFC, in Surrey, for a session with Geoff Parling and Rob Webber, who are both in England's 50-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup, which takes place in this country later in the year.

They joined students from four other schools from around the nation for the event held during School Sports Week. It saw the students taking part in a bespoke rugby skills and drills circuit under the coaching of the England players, with each school rotating round four stations each with a different rugby-based activity. Then after lunch they competed in a touch rugby tournament.

England Hooker Webber, who has 12 caps for the national team, said: "It’s been great to come to Camberley and meet the young people from Alder Grange.

"They’ve shown some real enthusiasm and enjoyed themselves which is what it’s all about.

"Rugby is relatively new to all these students and yet there have been some great skills on show. You can see that already they are getting so much out of the sport."

Alder Grange only took up rugby union this season as part of All Schools and has already seen over 50 students take part in the sport.

All Schools aims to increase the number of secondary state schools in England playing rugby union. Launched in September 2012 by England Rugby in partnership with the Rugby Football Foundation, All Schools is one of seven areas identified by England Rugby to deliver the greatest participation legacy for the game in the lead up to the 2015 World Cup and beyond.

Paul Nield, a student at Alder Grange, said: "I’ve had such a great time here – so has everyone else from the school. It was brilliant to meet Geoff and Rob and we got some good advice from them during the skills session.

"I started playing rugby when it was introduced at school and love it so much I’m now a member of Rossendale RUFC."

Adam Good, who teaches PE at Alder Grange said: "We’re coming to the end of our first year of the All Schools programme and this event has been a great way to round that off.

"Participation levels have increased, we’ve made links with our local club and it’s been great to get access to specialised rugby coaches.

"Rugby’s had a really positive impact and we’ve embraced the sport’s core values of (teamwork, discipline, respect, enjoyment and sportsmanship) right across the school."