YOUNG students from South Craven School honed their skills with the professionals at Leicester Tigers.

The group took part in a Tigers Matchday Coaching Clinic and then joined a 25,000-strong crowd for the Gallagher Premiership fixture against Wasps at Welford Road.

The coaching clinics allow teams to work with Tigers coaches to develop their individual and team skills, as well as taking tips and techniques with them to work on in the rest of the season.

The South Craven students also had an opportunity to quiz Tigers back-rower Brendon O’Connor about life in professional rugby and then soak up the matchday atmosphere at Welford Road before watching the professionals in action.

They even managed to follow in the players' footsteps by having a team photo taken on the famous turf at half-time in front of the crowd.

John Hughes, Head of PE from South Craven School, accompanied the players for their photo alongside Tigers’ international prop Gaston Cortes.

He said: “It’s been brilliant, we came down last year and did the same thing, the kids really love it.

“We had a really good coaching session this morning, we got to meet one of the players and then come here for the game. It’s a really good day, the kids really enjoy it and the fantastic atmosphere.

“Just being in the crowd and experiencing a Premiership game, it’s a great experience and hopefully they will love rugby even more when they get back to school.

“It’s really important to see what level they could play at and to see how atmospheric these games can be.”