North East Cambs MP Barclay with England Women’s rugby stars Maggie Alphonsi and Michaela Staniford

MP Steve Barclay joined stars of the England Women’s rugby team at a reception in parliament to promote a scheme which is helping pupils at Thomas Clarkson Community College in Wisbech to take up the game.

More than 50 students at the school have participated so far in mixed girls and boys rugby sessions organised as part of the Rugby Football Union’s ‘All school’s’ project, which is offering state schools across the UK the chance to get involved with the sport.

North East Cambs MP Barclay met representatives of the sport to discuss the expansion of the scheme.

The project will complement the government’s announcement of £150million new funding for specialist coaches in schools as part of the School Sport Legacy.

MP Barclay said: “The core values of respect and sportsmanship are an important part of rugby, so it is great to see the Olympic legacy of more sport in schools being developed by the RFU through this scheme.”

Earlier this month Thomas Clarkson student Jordan Ashman visited Twickenham to parade the college’s new rugby shirt, which the pupils designed themselves, on the pitch ahead of the England’s Six Nations match against Italy.