"Children were overwhelmed" after training from premiership rugby coaches (From Harrow Times)

Year-four students received training from Saracens coaches at St John's School rugby festival

2:26pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Jaber Mohamed

Children in Northwood were given tips by the very best when coaches from the top team in the rugby premiership visited their school.

Development officers from Saracens rugby team attended the second annual tag rugby festival organised by St John’s School, in Potter Street Hill, last week.

The school invited Year Four pupils Pinner Park Junior School, Grimsdyke School, West Lodge Primary School, Frithwood Primary School, Heathland Primary School and Hillside Junior School to take part.

Jessica Savage, a music teacher who runs the school’s charitable events, said the event was a huge success because some of the schools do not have facilities to play rugby.

She said: “The children were overwhelmed and couldn’t believe their luck at having professional coaches teach them.

“It is definitely something we want to continue.”

The all-boys school opened the event to both boys and girls and some schools brought two and even three teams for the tournament.

Director of sport John Pawson said: “It was so good to see boys and girls running on the fields and to see the smiling faces as they scored tries for their teams.”

Each team played six matches against other schools, referred by the Saracens development officers and school staff.

The school intends to run more events next term and include more participation for primary schools in the area.