Leicester Tigers players Jaco Taute and Jack Van Poortvliet took the time to join two special video calls with young rugby players from Oadby Wyggestonian and South Leicester rugby clubs. 

Part of the Club’s Project Rugby at Home initiative, in Partnership with Premiership Rugby and League title partner Gallagher, Tigers latest virtual outreach activity looks to give the next generation of rugby talent the chance to still be involved with their local rugby club despite current restrictions. 

As restrictions ease Project Rugby will look to continue its wider reaching rugby programme that aims to increase participation and opportunities for youngsters from under-represented backgrounds. 

Rugby development officers Steve Hanna and Laurence Walters led Q&As with the players answering questions submitted by the young club players getting them thinking and eager to get back on the grass as the county looks towards the restart of community rugby. 

A product of the Leicester Tigers academy and still only in his teens, Jack Van Poortvliet joined the call after featuring in the club’s Gallagher Premiership fixture loss to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, in which he was the scorer of Tigers second try. 

Centre Jaco Taute has captained Tigers on a number of occasions already this season and the South African shared his experienced with coaches and players on the call. 

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, local rugby clubs up and down the country have been unable to train and play competitive rugby in line with the RFU’s ‘Return to Rugby’ protocol. 

Following the guidelines on easing lockdown restrictions, the rugby community is hopeful that grassroots team sports can return from March 29. For more information, visit www.englandrugby.com 

Two more Tigers stars will be joining a Zoom call with Leicester Forest and Nottingham Moderns rugby clubs later this week. Keep an eye out on the club’s channels.