Haskell urges Continental Tyres Schools Cup finalists to 'become legends'

By Joe Harvey

England legend James Haskell urged the next generation of Continental Tyres Schools Cup finalists to go and become legends after an enthralling semi-finals weekend in Aylesbury.

The former England flanker, who won 77 caps, was on the ground at Ostler’s Field to help coaches and chat to fans as the under-15s competition took centre stage on Sunday.

The winners will play at StoneX Stadium, home of six-time English champions Saracens, next week.

Haskell knows just how valuable this competition is. He won the under-15s Cup with Wellington College in 2000, getting his first taste of Twickenham, and he admits the competition is vital to England’s talent pathway.

"My very first experience of playing rugby involving a bit of jeopardy in intensity was the Continental Tyres Schools Cup," Haskell said

"It made me fall in love with rugby, and these guys have a great opportunity to play in a final at StoneX Stadium.

"For me it was addictive and you can see the emotion of the kids, for some it is heartbreak and for some others elation.

"For some it's the opportunity to become legends, and for some it's to treasure, then want to go on and do more For some, this is the peak, this is the greatest summit they'll ever reach. And that's it.

"When I was younger, I never knew that I was going to get more opportunities.

"I thought I'd had my one and only go at Twickenham. You have got to take it and seriously enjoy it."

Northampton School for Boys will meet Radley College in the uncer-15s Cup Final, while Beechen Cliff School and Durham School will play in the Vase final.

On Saturday, Felsted School and Harrow School reached the under-18s final, while Ivybridge Community College and Kirkham Grammar School will compete for the Vase.

Continental Tyres and the RFU are working together to grow rugby through school-linked activity and 171,404 age grade players have registered to play this season, almost 3,000 more than the overall figure last year.

Haskell was in the thick of things alongside current England international Charlie Ewels as they helped to coach The Ley's School in their Vase semi-final defeat to Durham School.

Delivering a rousing half-time speech to The Leys School, Haskell had to watch on in agony as a 59th-minute penalty kick sent Durham to the final.

"Our team was so close to it," Haskell said. "I'm gutted for them, because it's a little bit of game management. They made a brace decision to tap and go run the clock down, which didn’t work

"Ironically, you see international teams do exactly the same thing. It's amazing, because the game is the same whatever level you're playing."

The Continental Tyres Schools Cup is an important part of the age-grade rugby landscape in England, with schools’ rugby often where players fall in love with the game for the first time. For more information visit the Continental Tyres Schools Cup section of the England Rugby Website