Sport swapping Saturday

1:31pm Saturday 5th July 2008

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EIGHTY children from St Albans spent this morning being trained by Saracens rugby players and a former England netball coach during an activity-packed event.

Three secondary schools and five primary schools took part in the Saracens Saturday Sport morning at St Albans Girls School, part of an eight week programme introducing children to a wide range of sports.

Saracens players Neil de Kock and Brent Russell and Mavericks netball coach Maggie Jackson traded tips and tricks for an opportunity to work with their fans and possible future players.

South African full-back Brent said: "All of us are very keen to support this as it's one way we can give back to the community and show our support. It's great that there's a large variety of sports that they can get involved in."

Approximately 130 children have signed up for the programme which introduces two new sports each Saturday, with the help of locally-based coaches. Sports included are Gaelic football, lacrosse, taekwondo, table tennis, street dancing and swimming.

Hannah Pirnie of the Saracens Sport Foundation, said: "The children absolutely love it. They get to try sports that they wouldn't normally be able to do. They love the fact that there's a level playing field as the sports are often new to all of them. No child is better than all the others so they are all involved."

The sports were chosen through a survey that was passed around the schools asking children how much sport they do and which sports they would like to try.

Matt Cross, 11, from St Albans, said: "I'm really enjoying it. It's a lot of fun, keeps you fit and gets you up in the morning. "Otherwise I would just be sitting at home watching the telly. I really liked lacrosse as there was a lot of action."

The schools taking part are Sandringham School, Townsend School, St Albans Girls School, Wheatfield Junior School, Margaret Wix School, Sacred Heart School, Garden Fields School, Aboyne Lodge School.

The schools taking part are Sandringham School, Townsend School, St Albans Girls School, Wheatfield Junior School, Margaret Wix School, Sacred Heart School, Garden Fields School, Aboyne Lodge School.