PUPILS AT a Marlow school had a real treat earlier this week when a professional rugby player from New Zealand visited and took part in a couple of coaching sessions.

Bradley Shields, 25, plays for the Hurricanes back in his native country and has represented New Zealand at under-20 level.

Shields was invited into Great Marlow School (GMS) by his uncle Stuart Ross, who is a teacher there, and he worked alongside Steve Goodright, a PE teacher and head of rugby at GMS.

Two 90-minutes sessions were scheduled with 80 kids on Monday with Year Nine, Ten and Eleven students first before Year Seven and Eight pupils later that afternoon.

Shields spoke to the Bucks Free Press about the sessions and how beneficial they are to 11 to 16-year-olds, especially back in his home country.

He said: “We are currently in the off-season in New Zealand and with my parents being from over here, I fitted these sessions into my UK trip.

“I taught them a few techniques to help them develop and I hope my time with the kids inspired them.

“Back home, we do this kind of thing quite a lot with schools, as well as rugby clubs, and it is hugely rewarding for youngsters to meet rugby players they look up to and idolise and it is nice to be able to give them some of your own knowledge.”

Although sessions with professional rugby players are rare at schools in the UK, Shields thinks that to enhance future starts, sessions like this should be held much more regularly over here.

“These types of sessions are hugely beneficial,” added Shields. 

“It is such a great opportunity for the youngsters to be able to listen to some bits of advice we can give them to help them progress and if schools in the UK did this, then that would really aid students.”

Goodright explained that he was delighted to be able to use Shields’ skills to help his pupils further. He commented: “This is a really significant step for us.

“We wanted to inspire the children and to be able to meet such a phenomenal player like Brad was great for the whole school”