NORFOLK RUGBY LEGEND
NORFOLK RUGBY LEGEND RETURNS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION
Sixty youngsters from Holt RFC had the opportunity to learn from two England rugby legends at a masterclass in May.
Ben Youngs, England’s most-capped male player, and Austin Healey, capped 51 times, led a special coaching session ahead of this summer’s Festival of Sport at Holkham in August.
The two legendary scrum halves put three groups of young players through their paces with skills sessions and drills in tackling and passing in front of a packed crowd on Wednesday 3 May.
For Ben, who started playing at the club as an under-7 before going on to join Leicester Tigers first team at the tender age of 17, it was a genuine homecoming and the chance for him to see the clubhouse’s mural celebrating his incredible success.
Ben said, “It’s fantastic for me to come back to the club where it all started, to show just how far you can go in the game if you’re genuinely committed, and inspire the next generation.”
Austin Healey was impressed with the standard of play: “There are some really talented kids here, and what’s really clear is their enthusiasm for the sport and willingness to improve. Giving youngsters the chance to learn from the best in sport, whether it’s England legends like Ben, or Olympians, gold-medal winners, others that have been there and done that, it’s what we’re doing here and it’s what we do at Festival of Sport in Holkham in August.”
Other rugby legends attending Festival of Sport include Healey’s co-founder Will Greenwood, Mike Tindall, Rachael Burford and Sydney Gregson. As Austin clarifies, “It’s not just rugby though – hockey, netball, kayaking, archery, American football, you name it, you can have a go at it there with sportsmen and women who’ve reached the top of their game.”
Charlie Garrod, who plays for Holt RFC under 13s picked up some good tips from both coaches. “It’s been really exciting to play with famous players and we’ve learned a lot.”
At a Q & A session in the clubhouse after the masterclass, Youngs credited longstanding Holt RFC coach Mike Bush for setting him on the road to success and giving him top billing alongside Eddie Jones.
More information about Festival of Sport: www.festivalofsportuk.com
Festival of Sport takes place at Holkham Park, Norfolk 11th - 14th August 2023. Tickets for the full weekend are on sale now, priced at £370 (1 adult + 1 child aged 5-17 years). Additional adult tickets £160, additional child tickets £210. Under 5s go free. Tickets include access to the event and full programme of sports sessions for all children plus evening entertainment. Accommodation on site starts at £70 for three nights for a tent or campervan pitch, ready-erected bell tents from £250 (3 nights, up to 6 sharing). Day tickets are also available for Saturday or Sunday, priced at £185 for one adult and one child, additional children (5-17) £105, additional adults £80.
