Players from a Shropshire rugby club which was formed only 18 months ago are preparing to scrum down for the game of their lives at the home of English rugby - Twickenham.
Members of Highley Rugby Club are preparing for a big day out after beating entries from 500 other clubs in a national magazine competition.
The club will play an inter-club match on May 31 after winning a competition in Rugby World magazine for working with the community and attracting new players to the game.
The team will take to the pitch before the Premiership final between Wasps and Leicester Tigers.
They will play a 30-minute game on the full pitch in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd for the final.
The competition asked clubs to send in 100 words answering a number of questions, including policies on how to attract new adults to the sport.
The club only has enough players for two sides, with the first team having recently ended its debut season in Midland 6 West (SW).
Club coach Dave Morris said no-one at the club could believe the team would be running out on to the world famous pitch of Twickenham.
“The whole thing is just unbelievable,” he said. “We’ve been going for less than two years.
“From that, to get into the league and then to play at Twickenham, is like winning a cup competition,” he added.
“Our two teams will go down and get the full corporate day.
“We are being given a bus for the day and a training session with the Director of Rugby or an England player beforehand.
“This is just a massive thing for us.
“From 500 clubs, we have been chosen - a little village - and we have come out on top.”
Highley will take to the pitch at 1.05pm with the main final due to kick off at 3pm.
By Jonathan Wood
4 Comments
My rugby playing days are long since over but I would like to congratulate everyone connected with the club. Highley has in the past received some bad publicity and it is very pleasing to see this particular group get the recognition they deserve. I hope this is just the begining. If the club needs a motto could I suggest “vires acquirit eundo” ( we gather strenght as we go).
having played rugby at ludlow grammer school 50 years ago i wish highley all the best, i always stayed as far from the ball as possible and was linesman
My brother mike plays for highley, in many ways he is my hero and not only inspires me but many of the local youths with his flair play outrageous skills and lethally accurate kicking.
I played against mike at twickenham and the maggot made me look a fool. I was constantly undone by his trickery, and it probabally cost our side the game. At least we didnt let him kick penalties in the game else the scoreline could have become embarrassingly one sided.