TEACHERS have never been so keen to accompany pupils on a school trip, after Dorcan Academy’s rugby team was chosen to take part in a pre-match game at Twickenham.

The squad of Year 7 rugby players will pit their hard-won skills against a school from Paignton, Devon in a curtain-raiser match before the Italy v England game on February 14.

They’ll also be standing as the guard of honour as the players leave the tunnel ahead of kick-off.

Sam Price, coach of the rugby team taking part in the game, said: “We were all very excited when we found out we had this opportunity to go to the home of rugby.

“Everyone was really excited, and I think some of their parents were very jealous too.

“We’re working hard to prepare for the game, we’ve got the professionals in to help us train and it will hopefully be a fantastic day.”

Dorcan students were given the chance to go to Twickenham after developing their commitment to the game and embedding the principles of the RFU (Rugby Football Union) into their practice.

There are five schools in Swindon which are part of the programme, which aims to bring rugby to areas where there has not been much previous interest.

It is now the second year that Dorcan have been part of the All Schools RFU programme, which helps to develop the love of the game in under-represented areas.

Alan Low, Wiltshire Rugby Development Officer with the programme, said: “It’s not just the game but also everything that goes with it we try to help schools bring in and embed, including team work, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

“At Dorcan they have really taken the programme on board and really embedded all the values.

“They already have two Year 7 rugby teams and they are playing rugby in all years at the school.

“They’ll now play a game in front of a crowd of 90,000 at Twickenham, which for rugby fans is just amazing.

“The first time I ever went to Twickenham I was about their age, and to be able to play on the turf is just fantastic.”

As part of their training, the school welcomed Ceri Large, the Community Rugby Coach in Wiltshire and England Women's World Cup player, to lead a training session at the school on Friday.

Wendy Craig, head of PE at Dorcan, said: “Being able to go to Twickenham – there’s a real wow factor about that, and it’s just amazing that we have this opportunity.

“We just want to thank All Sports for their support and the opportunity to go along, and those children can come back and they’ll inspire others to take up the sport.”