OLD Halesonians kicked off the new season with a visit to Twickenham for the mini and juniors.

Having been crowned a Kids First Champion Club by the RFU in late 2018, the mini and junior sections were invited to take part in a Quilter Kids First takeover at the home of England Rugby.

The event saw 14 youngsters from the club take to the hallowed turf at Twickenham to take part in a range of rugby based activities.

The youngster were treated like England internationals for the day with a hero’s welcome into the ground, team talk from former internationals Lewis Moody, David Flatman, Ugo Monye and Danielle Waterman before running out onto the pitch for the national anthem and rugby games.

This was a unique opportunity for the youngsters to experience the environment of their heroes. Each of the children who took part received a medal which was presented in the royal box by current England internationals.

Kids First is a programme by the RFU which looks at the best practice for developing our young rugby players of the future in a fun, safe and player led environment.

Old Hales were recognised for its work within this programme by the RFU in December 2018 when it became one of only eight clubs nationally to be awarded the Kids First Champion Club Status.

This is a great start to what will be an exciting 2019 / 20 season with a new coaching team in place for the senior section which is led by James Angove and includes former Scotland Ladies international Tracy Balmer, current first team player Tom Jarvis and Ollie Taylor.

A developing ladies team and a thriving mini and junior section which is growing all the time and boast rugby from children as young as four right through to 18 years of age and includes three full girls' teams at U13s, U15s and U18s level.

New players are always welcome at the club, senior training is Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm, women on a Friday from 6.30pm and mini and juniors on a Sunday morning from 100am.