A legendary figure within Irish rugby put aspiring rugby stars at Rydal Penrhos through their paces at a special event.

Simon Mason, who was part of the Ulster side that won the Heineken European Cup in 1999 following a memorable win over Stade Francais, delivered a special kicking masterclass to a group of aspiring stars on Sunday, June 10.

Mason is a former European Cup record holder for most points scored before he was taken over by Diego Dominguez, and boasted a phenomenal 90 per cent success rate during his time at the club.

The full-back’s playing career was cut short due to a broken leg suffered during an appearance for English side Caldy, and he also enjoyed a spell on the continent with Stade Francais and Treviso as well as a player coach role at Orrell.

During the day, Mason went through a series of drills with a group that included the RGC West duo of Fin Hare and Josh Lynch, which worked on a wide range of different techniques and methods designed to improve accuracy and efficiency.

This is the latest in a series of opportunities offered by Rydal Penrhos’ Sports and Athletic Development Department, which has enjoyed another sensational academic year of regional, national and international achievement thanks to the hard work and commitment shown by staff and pupils at the school.

Director of Sport Allen Boyd, said: “This was another extremely worthwhile exercise for our young and talented hopefuls, and we would like to thank Simon for giving up his time to share his expertise with them during what was a fantastic day.”