Ian flies in for girls' rugby training session (From Barry And District News)

Ian flies in for girls' rugby training session

WELSH rugby star Ian Gough was flown in by Army helicopter to provide pupils at Barry's St Richard Gwyn RC High School with a special training session.

Jointly organised by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Welsh Rugby Union, Dragon Rugby Trust, Coca Cola and the Army, the Player Outreach programme is providing a series of coaching clinics involving top players in schools across the south, accompanied by former England A and Gloucester winger Brian Johnson, who, as an Army officer, organised the helicopter flight to the school and also joined in the coaching session.

Training sessions, which cover nutrition and psychology as well as fitness and rugby skills, are led by Barry-born Army sergeant Julian McTavish, who is rugby development officer for the Vale Council's Sports Development Unit.

The focus of the session at St Richard Gwyn was the school's girls rugby team, and Brian, who drew on both rugby and Army training experience, said: "They responded really well, and I only hope it doesn't come back to haunt us English on the rugby field".

Further information on rugby development in the Vale can be obtained from Julian McTavish on tel 704603.