FROM designing their own playing shirt to walking out at Twickenham during England’s Six Nations next year, students from Aylestone School are learning that rugby is so much more than a game.

Launched in 2012, the CBRE All Schools programme has been developed by the RFU to increase the amount of rugby in schools, encourage new players to join local clubs and create a positive legacy through the sport and its core values.

One element is the running of bespoke kit design workshops, delivered by official partner Canterbury and run in conjunction with the RFU for every school in the programme.

Not only do pupils get the chance to design their own rugby shirt but they are also invited to attend England’s Six Nations match with Wales at Twickenham on February 10.

Aylestone School are one of 100 new institutions taking part in the workshops in September and October, and four lucky students headed to Fiveways Old Edwardians RFC on September 21 to get to grips with their initial shirt designs.

Headteacher Simon Robertson said “We talked about what made a good design for a rugby shirt. Our school’s colours are black and gold. “The children learned that black is an intimidating colour - like the New Zealand shirt - and the children incorporated that into their own design.

“We’ve deliberately aimed the shirts at our lower school to try and make the children feel enthused about rugby. We’ve also profited from proper RFU coaching lessons for our rugby clubs after school, as well as having extra equipment.”

The workshops, which build team spirit and boost creative innovation, see pupils given unique freedom and opportunity to design their school’s shirt, which could be worn by their school’s rugby team for many years to come.

Steve Grainger, RFU Rugby Development Director, commented: “CBRE All Schools aims is to give as many young people as possible the chance to enjoy all that rugby has to offer. Designing their own school kit is an integral part of the programme and helps students understand more about the history, heritage and core values of our great game.”

All Schools supported by Canterbury is one of the RFU’s key legacy programmes, set up to increase the number of state secondary schools playing rugby union in England. Visit englandrugby.com/allschools to find out more.