Leslie delivers rugby lesson

COME ON THROUGH: Tawhero School's Tahu Tehuia, 10, looks to thread his way through the contact bags, supervised by former Otago Highlander and Scottish test player John Leslie.PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO

The children of Tawhero School got a first class rugby education yesterday afternoon from former Otago Highlander's captain and Scottish international John Leslie.

The 23-capped test centre was in Whanganui and Taihape over the last two days to run sessions of his LeslieRugby programme, designed to help junior rugby coaches and parents learn how to teach the game's fundamentals to youngsters.

Veteran of an 11-year first class career in Otago, Scotland, England and Japan, Leslie developed his business in 2006 and first ran it in Whanganui last year.

Nga Apai of the Pirates rugby club is chairman of the board of trustees for Tawhero, and so convinced Leslie to also stop in at the school for this trip to take them on some drills.

"He gave me an invitation and I had an afternoon free," said Leslie.

"We just teach them basic drill and make them feel confident about that.

"Usually there's more structure to it, but it's casual as these are kids."

Leslie took the 23 children through four basic skills - ball running, taking the ball into contact, catch and pass, and tackling.

Tawhero principal Chris Dibben was delighted to host the former test player.

"We're very, very privileged to have him here.

"To come back and give to the community is absolutely fantastic."

Most of the boys and girls who took part in the session are Saturday rugby players, he said.

Leslie also ran his programme for adult coaches at Cooks Gardens on Thursday night and at the Taihape rugby club yesterday evening.