Congleton High School Sports Blog: May 2014

Exclusive Day at Bath Rugby

Last month, a selection of students had a once in a lifetime experience when they lived a day as a professional rugby player at Bath Rugby Club. They had an exclusive training session with rugby legend Danny Grewcock and saw behind the scenes of Farleigh House, Bath’s Rugby HQ.

The former England and British Lions lock put the students through their paces in an intense training session. The session was very valuable and insightful to the students and covered ball handling skills, teamwork and possession skills, fitness in rugby and team games. During the games Mr Cross put in a cross field kick to draw the scores level with the last attack of the game! After all, there are not many people better to teach you than someone who has 69 caps for England.

The day proved to be much more than just a training session as the students were invited to watch the first team train, got to talk to the players after the training session and get the all important autographs.

The students were also lucky enough to have a tour around Bath Rugby’s headquarters. This gave the students a real insight into life as a rugby player and what goes on behind the scenes, where most people don't get access to. They saw where the players got changed, where head coach Mike Ford talks tactics and where the players prepare for the session ahead. They also saw how hard being a rugby player is and how they prepare, with the weights in the gym bringing a tear to Mr de Souza’s eyes just by looking at them.

Congleton High School felt very privileged to be given such exclusive treatment and would like to thank Bath Rugby Club for being extremely welcoming and accommodating as well as the parent who let the school know about the Jaffa Fruit competition, which ultimately earned the day. I know for a fact that this isn’t going to be an experience that they forget about quickly as Mr Cross and Mr de Souza have only just stopped talking about it!