Rugby-mad youngsters received coaching from Oxford University RFC stars at the club’s annual schools day at their Iffley Road ground.

The under 12s from Marlborough (Woodstock), The Oxford Academy, St Gregory the Great (Oxford), John Mason (Abingdon), Wheatley Park, Cherwell (Oxford), Cheney (Oxford) and Magdalen College School (Oxford) were welcomed in the club's historic pavilion by director of rugby Steve Hill, who gave a brief talk on the club’s history.

Then it was on to the field, which had been split into sections for each group to work on a range of rugby activities, including the scrummaging machine for front row forwards run by former All Black Anton Oliver.

The afternoon finished with a question and answer session before the youngsters were given tickets for Oxford’s game against Major Stanley's XV on Wednesday, which the Dark Blues won 55-31.

Oxford University will be hoping to see the children again when they launch their rugby academy for under 9s to under 14s on Thursday, January 15. More details are available on 01865 432000.