Putney school pupils are learning that rugby is much more than a game after getting involved in a unique initiative.

Children at Ark Putney Academy, in Pullman Gardens, were able to design their own rugby shirt at a kit design workshop in Twickenham Stadium.

Not only that but they will get the chance to attend England’s Six Nations meeting with Wales at Twickenham on February 10 next year.

The CRBE All Schools programme, in collaboration with the Rugby Football Union, encourages new players to join local clubs.

It aims to build team spirit and boost creative innovation, allowing pupils to the freedom to create their own school’s shirt which could be worn in future seasons.

School sports coordinator Daniel Sheehan: It was an amazing day, the opportunity for the students to have a day out of school to do something as productive as that was amazing.

“One of them even went on to say they would talk to their kids about the event in the future because it was so amazing. Some of them have never been to a stadium before in their lives, so to have their first stadium visit at Twickenham was brilliant.

“They learnt how to work in a team and independence because they had to have their own ideas and bring it together at the end.”

The kit workshop was setup by official teamwear partner Canterbury in collaboration with the RFU for each of the 100 new schools in the programme, and aims to take rugby into 750 state secondary schools by 2019.

Steve Grainger, RFU rugby development director, said: “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.

“The kit design workshops, thanks to great support from Canterbury, help the schools understand the pride associated with the shirt and I am sure that these new school teams will feel the same pride for their own shirt as our teams feel when they put on the England shirt.”

CRBE All Schools is supported by one of the RFU’s key legacy programme, set up to increase the number of state secondary schools playing rugby union in England.

For more information, visit: www.englandrugby.com/allschools.