WHAT GOES ON TOUR…

Goes in Rugby World

IN 2015, Samsung, one of England’s sponsors, ran an advertising campaign. Filmed at Maidenhead RFC, its comedic theme featured Jack Whitehall, the actor and comedian, being educated on the basics of rugby by some England greats. “You can find the advert on YouTube. It still makes me smile,” writes Maggie Alphonsi, who explains her part in the advert…

“The best way to learn is to practise,” Lawrence Dallaglio tells Jack during his tackle masterclass. “Why don’t you be the tackler?” he adds, before calling me over.

“I’m not going to tackle a lady,” Jack replies.

“Maggie is one of our greatest players. Have you got a problem with that?” Lawrence asks.

“Yes. I don’t know how you were brought up, Lawrence, but I won’t be tackling a lady. Sorry Maggie.”

So Lawrence suggests we swap, so I become the tackler. “I’m fine with that,” I say, a glint in my eye.

Poor Jack had to first crash into a tackle bag held by Martin Johnson, then run at me. Smash!

But what you don’t see on the clip is how many tackles I made. The director, a mate of Jack’s, came over to me. “Hi Maggie, let’s make him work for his money, shall we?” he said with a smile. “Let’s do another 20 tackles.”

Happy days. All the Maidenhead lads cheered me on. “Come on Maggie, let’s take him down!”

There were a few tackles when I could hear Jack grunt as I made contact. Eventually he’d had enough. “Can we stop now? I’m not really enjoying this,” he said. To be fair, he was great company. From Maggie Alphonsi: Winning the Fight, pubbyPolaris,RRP£20