Masterclass from a legend

IPSWICH Rugby Club's Under-11 side enjoyed the perfect end to another fantastic season with a coaching master class from English rugby legend Jason Robinson.

Stuart Watson

IPSWICH Rugby Club's Under-11 side enjoyed the perfect end to another fantastic season with a coaching master class from English rugby legend Jason Robinson.

The successful junior side have now gone two full seasons unbeaten in the league, while this season they completed a remarkable festival treble with victories at their home club, Sudbury and Colchester.

Over those three major festivals, which involved some of the strongest teams from across the eastern region, Ipswich did not concede a single try.

Such success alone would have been ample cause for celebration at Humber Doucy Lane, however, the icing on the cake came last week when one of England's most revered wingers arrived at the club to pass on a few tips.

The recently retired Robinson's visit came after the club was randomly selected as one of six lucky winners from over 42,000 entrants to a competition with Rugby World magazine, held as part of the Tesco Sport for Schools and Clubs Scheme.

Robinson said: “I just love getting out there and seeing young kids being active. It's great seeing the looks on their faces when they see someone who they recognise off the TV joining with them and having fun.”

Ipswich Under-11 assistant coach Spencer Smith was the man responsible for entering his side into the competition.

He said: “It has just been a fantastic season. We really have confirmed ourselves as the All Blacks of East Anglia.

“They are a super team, with a super spirit. They have shown an enormous amount of self-discipline to get to where they are.

“It's all very well players turning up to training sessions like this, but these boys have all shown the dedication of turning up on snowy December mornings with the attitude of 'let's get on with it'.

“It's a tough game and when you are getting some knocks you've got to really want it in order to be successful. These boys have proved that they want it.

“We have also been lucky that we have a very supportive group of parents that will drive around all over the place and a great group of coaches too.”

Smith added: “Having Jason here has been the perfect end to the season for these boys. You get all shapes and sizes in rugby, but everyone wants to be the one that scores the tries and so Jason is a hero because he did just that.

“He's a great guy, a fantastic role model for the sport and youngsters in general. He has achieved some fantastic things in sport and as a person and, for me, he exemplifies everything that is good about our sport.”