Young players from Mansfield Rugby Club honed their skills with the professionals at 10-time English champions Leicester Tigers.

They took part in a Tigers matchday coaching clinic and then joined an 18,000-strong crowd for an Anglo-Welsh Cup fixture between the Tigers and Gloucester.

The clinics allow teams to work with Tigers coaches to develop their individual and team skills, as well as taking away tips and techniques with them to work on for the rest of the season.

The Mansfield players had an opportunity to quiz Tonga international back-rower Sione Kalamafoni about life in professional rugby.

They followed in the players’ footsteps by having a team photo taken on the famous turf at half-time.

Peter Haskell, a coach at Mansfield, who accompanied the team for their photo with Tigers full-back Telusa Veainu, said: “It has been great. The training session was brilliant and the girls learnt a load of new skills.

“The questions for the Q&A were great and Kalamafoni was brilliant with his answers.

“They have all loved the day so much.”