FORMER England and London Irish rugby player Rob Hardwick is due to visit Copleston High School in Ipswich today in a bid to inspire youngsters through sport.Hardwick is part of a team of champion sportsmen, who visit schools across the country, as part of the Living For Sport initiative.

FORMER England and London Irish rugby player Rob Hardwick was due to visit Copleston High School in Ipswich today in a bid to inspire youngsters through sport.

Hardwick is part of a team of champion sportsmen, who visit schools across the country, as part of the Living For Sport initiative to help engage young people aged 11 to 16 with more areas of school life and to help them reach personal goals.

The national initiative organised by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with BSkyB is now in its fourth year and involves more than 500 schools.

The 'Athlete Mentors' use personal stories from their childhoods and their experiences as successful athletes to illustrate behavioural messages and communicate life skills, inspire, challenge and encourage students to achieve their full potential in school.

The initiative is designed to give young people the opportunity to try a range of sporting activities, from archery to martial arts, while working toward personal targets to improve their performance in school.

Youth Sport Trust chairman Sue Campbell said: "I should like to congratulate both the students and staff at Copleston High School for their enthusiasm and hard work in Living For Sport. Rob knows at first hand the commitment needed to successfully achieve a personal best, and I am sure he will be an influential role model to the students now taking part."