The Rugby Football Union's latest inner-city coaching clinic at Langdon School in East Ham, London was heralded as a great success by Harlequins' Tony Diprose who helped take the session.

RFU rugby development officers hosted the training session alongside Diprose as part of an inner-city programme that has been running for three years.

Schools Minister Stephen Timms, Diprose and RFU council member and former England international Simon Halliday were also present.

Halliday said: "We're keen to show the investment that the game wants to make in youth.

"There are a lot of talented players out there and all schools should be encouraged to produce players, but you don't necessarily have to go all the way to the top."

The Schools Minister was delighted children in his constituency had been offered the chance to work with big names in the sport.

"I welcome the initiative the RFU is taking by extending these opportunities to kids," he said. "They evidently enjoyed it and we want every child to have this type of opportunity in the future."

Diprose added: "You could see from their faces that the kids really enjoyed it and that's what it's all about.

"Hopefully some of the guys and girls out there today will go and join their local club and stay involved in the game."

Whilst the RFU will no doubt be hoping to discover an England star of the future, the main focus of this scheme is participation and enjoyment.

"The purpose is two-fold," added Diprose. "Firstly, there might be another Jonny Wilkinson out there and it would be fantastic if we could find him.

"But the other purpose is to get people involved and enjoying rugby because there are so many tiers to it, whether it's the guy who enjoys playing on a Sunday afternoon or someone aspiring to be an England international, and all the levels in between."