On Wednesday afternoon the Rugby Club welcomed professional rugby player Piers Francis to Oundle. Pupils who have worked exceptionally well within their respective teams were chosen to attend masterclass sessions with him.
Piers developed his game in New Zealand from the age of 18, where he earned ‘Rookie of the Year’ for his eleven appearances with the Blues Super Rugby Squad. He played for England on tour in Argentina at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and is now with the Northampton Saints where he plays centre and fly-half.
Piers took the pupils through some tactical situations on how to control territory and possession and showed them how to manage the game in general in wet conditions. He explored a variety of kicking options and discussed how best to use these skills against different defensive setups.
The school prides itself on fast-flowing rugby, playing to attack from every situation. Piers was very aligned to this approach, and the level of detail he offered the players will help focus the development of their skills in the coming seasons.
