RUGBY Union superstar Faf de Klerk hopes to have an impact on junior players at Lymm.
The World Rugby Player of the Year nominee was joined by Sale Sharks teammates Denny Solomona and captain Jono Ross in running a coaching session for the under 15s team at the Crouchley Lane club.
Faf de Klerk takes time out with the Lymm Rugby Club youngsters
Lymm won the opportunity in a nationwide competition.
“We don’t really see ourselves as heroes but I think a lot of kids look up to players playing in the Gallagher Premiership, it’s where they want to play," said South African scrum-half de Klerk, who has 21 international caps to his name.
“It’s good for them to be alongside us and get advice but it’s also good for us to get some energy off them after a long day of training!
“It motivates them to work harder and we can give them some good tips on whatever questions they ask – hopefully we can have an impact on these guys.
“It’s great that Gallagher are supporting grassroots rugby, that’s where it all started for me as a young kid and sessions like this make a massive difference in the community.”
Faf de Klerk in the Lymm Rugby Club changing rooms
The ‘Train with your Heroes’ session went down well with the youngsters, including 15-year-old hooker Nathan Lang.
“It’s great that Gallagher are supporting me and my team as a whole because it gives us a chance to learn from players that have made it, so we know what we have to do to achieve what they have.
Great evening with @LymmRugbyClub U15s as part of the @GallagherUK #TrainWithYourHeroes session the squad won.
— Darren Lamon (@DarrenLamon) February 27, 2019
Fun & a laugh to co - coach with @DennySolomona @Jono__Ross @fafdeklerk and the famous @JackDLeech
Enjoyed @vickyeirwin checking her work emails mid session also.🦈 https://t.co/jNeU5ElbJC
“It’s been a great session, it’s quite tough but really good to get chatting to the guys and get involved.
“We’ve been playing together as a team for years now so we gel and we’re quite close. We’re constantly pushing each other – if someone does something wrong we help them improve.”
The fast-paced session, described as one of the team's most intense and competitive this season, saw de Klerk, Solomona and Ross coach the youngsters on a range of aspects of their game, with a competitive session of attack versus defence and an emphasis on finding space on the pitch.
Sale Sharks captain Jono Ross before the training session at Lymm Rugby Club
De Klerk was speaking at a Gallagher ‘Train with your Heroes’ session at Lymm RFC after their U15s side won a nationwide competition launched by Gallagher, a passionate community insurance broker and proud title partner of Premiership Rugby. Lymm won by describing how their team embodies the spirit of rugby, both on and off the pitch, and helps grow the game locally.
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