Cup victors can Land a dream day at Twickers
YOUNGSTERS from the region will embark on the first step towards a dream Twickenham appearance on Saturday as part of the largest Land Rover Premiership Cup to date.
The under-11 and under-12 grassroots rugby festival at Kingston Park is part of a series of nationwide events which provide aspiring young players with the opportunity to play in a competitive event and meet professional players from Premiership clubs.
In in the decade since its inception, the cup has seen more than 70,000 children take part from all over the country.
With close to 80 under-11 and under-12 teams making their way to Kingston Park, young players will be given a true taste of the professional game.
For Newcastle fly-half Toby Flood, there is nothing more important than supporting the next generation of rugby stars.
He said: “I remember going down to Alnwick Rugby Club at the age of six .
“I had played in the back garden a bit before then mimicking rugby players. I still remember the coaching sessions I did - I did one with Dave Walder who is now my coach at the Falcons.
“I think is is a great initiative by Land Rover to get involved in grassroots rugby and it has a huge impact.
“Ultimately it is just trying to get an awareness of how this works and getting to meet people - and the kids will remember these days.
“I think it has a really long impact and it is one of those things both rugby and Land Rover have been really good at, continuing that ethos of the way we should be approaching sport because we all started as young kids.”
In addition to Saturday’s event, one team from each age group will win a trip to the Aviva Premiership final on May 26.
There they will meet a Land Rover rugby ambassador and join in a Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup parade at half-time.
DON’T miss a picture special on the Kingston Park tournament in Grassroots Sport.