Huntingdon Rugby Club gave youngsters a first taste of the sport yesterday when staging a ‘Bring A Friend’ event.

The club’s head coach Damien Whales put youngsters aged between 12 and 16 and coaches from the club’s junior section through their paces at The Racecourse.

Under 16 team manager David Brennan said: “It’s not often a club’s head coach will give up his time with such enthusiasm to help develop players and coaches at junior level.

“His knowledge and experience were invaluable during a great and very constructive day.”

Whales has been prominently involved in the creation of a development plan which aims to attract new players, improve coaching standards and bring the junior and senior section together as one complete club.

He said: “I really enjoyed it and it was great to see so much playing talent and enthusiasm across the age groups.

“There was even some skill evident from the youth coaches . . .”

The ‘Bring A Friend’ session is expected to become an annual event at the club.