Sporting Soprano Laura Wright And Moseley Rugby Club Players Train With Students at Grace Academy Solihull

Sporting soprano Laura Wright, who is known to millions as the official anthem singer for the England Rugby Team, has tested her skills on the pitch in a tag rugby training session with students from Grace Academy Solihull.

The soprano visited the Academy in her role as ambassador for the All Schools Rugby campaign, an initiative run by The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Canterbury, the official sportswear supplier for the Rugby World up 2015, to help develop the sport at a local level.

Players from Moseley Rugby Club joined the training session and Club player Drew Cheshire said:

“It’s great that Laura could come down, seeing more females in rugby and getting it out there is definitely something we want to see.”

Laura Wright, who is an avid rugby player herself and would like to see more women taking part, said:

“I loved playing all kinds of sport when I was at school, however rugby was not an option; a missed opportunity I feel. I have found the sport now in my 20`s but, if rugby was introduced to women at a younger age, their potential could be realised sooner and for greater results. A sport with such complex rules and the discipline needed takes time to learn and I feel it has just as rightful a place as Hockey, Tennis and Netball.”

Laura Wright, who has invited Grace Academy students to join her on stage at her Brammall Hall concert in Birmingham on 24 March to sing the anthem Jerusalem, shot to fame as a member of the Brit Award nominated group All Angels. Ms Wright has performed to audiences across the world including Her Majesty The Queen, one hundred Presidents and Prime Ministers in one room, opened for Andre Bocelli, performed duets with Donny Osmond, Alfie Boe, to name a few, and famously opened Prince Harry`s Invictus Games.

Darren Gelder, Principal, Grace Academy, commented:

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to have Laura with us today. And to be able to work with the students in something we promote heavily with regards to open access for all students, male and female… And I thought the girls gave the boys a whooping!”

The All Schools Rugby initiative was launched in 2012 by the RFU and aims to increase the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union. Canterbury CEO Chris Stephenson said:

“2015 is such a special year for all rugby fans – Laura has been a real champion of the All Schools programme and we are delighted she will be visiting schools and spreading the word in her unique fashion, blending her two passions of music and sport.”