Jeremy Staunton, Martin Corry and Matt Hampson passed on their tips to the next generation of players during the Tigers camps.
Corry joined Hampson and scores of players at Melton Mowbray RFC.
Former Tigers and England captain Corry, who was part of England’s 2003 World Cup winning squad, gave insights into the game during a question and answer session about his illustrious career. Corry, who was capped 64 times by England and seven times by the Lions, also posed for photographs and signed autographs.
Melton-born Hampson presented the young players with their awards and certificates at the end of the course. He also received a cheque from Melton RFC for £2,000 for the Matt Hampson Foundation while the sale of wristbands during the course raised another £600 for the foundation.
“Hambo is a real inspiration,” says Phil Green, Melton minis and juniors chairman, said: “He has been to our presentation night for a few years, he knows people at the club, he pops in now and then and the children all know him.
“He came down and helped with the awards, and rewarded the three performers of the week with some memorabilia.”
Green added: “Cozza did a question and answer session, which was brilliant – once one put his hand up they were off and it was very well received.”
Ireland international Staunton was at Newark RFC where he worked with around 100 young players on their Rugby Course. Staunton was also grilled about life at Tigers during a question and answer session.
Academy captain Charlie Clare lent a hand on the camp held at Kenilworth RFC. Clare also gave his perspective on life in the Tigers Academy during a question and answer session.
Tigers Rugby Courses are the only courses run by and endorsed by Leicester Tigers, the two-time European champions. This year Tigers will be visiting 26 venues.
Tigers players Ben Youngs, Sam Harrison and Jonny Harris are among those to have taken part in the rugby course programme and gone on to represent the first team at Welford Road.
All courses are attended by a full-time first-aider. Tigers coaches are CRB cleared and their work replicates that of the club’s Elite Player Development Group – which identifies players with the potential to play rugby at the elite level and gives them early access to Tigers Academy coaching.
Tigers Rugby Courses, which are supported by energy efficiency specialists Mark Group, are led by former players including ex-captain and coach Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith, double Heineken Cup winner Glenn Gelderbloom and ex-hooker Troy Thacker.
Players taking part can expect a hot meal each day, a Tigers Rugby Course T-shirt, rugby ball and water bottle and a ticket to a selected first-team game at Welford Road.
Courses are being held right across the Tigers region, including Ratcliffe College and Market Harborough RFC (both July 18-22), Lutterworth RFC (August 8-12) and Leicester Forest RFC (October 17-21).
More information about Tigers Rugby Courses is available at www.leicestertigers.com/community
