Chris Robshaw and Tom Sergeant talked to the pupils on life as a professional athlete as well as the aspirations of themselves and Harlequins before assisting pupils in the development of their logo and centre name which will be entered into the ICT competition, launched to allow pupils to get involved in the branding of the new centre to be located at the Twickenham Stoop.

The players' visit to the schools was organised by Harlequins Academy Sponsor, eteach. Eteach, the UK's number one online education recruitment service, have sponsored Harlequins for seven years. Eteach Chief Executive Paul Howells said: 'Eteach are proud to support the 'Playing for Success' initiative. As a former PE teacher, I fully appreciate the role sport can play in motivating children, giving them confidence and success they might not achieve in the classroom.'

The Department for Children, Schools and Families Playing for Success initiative establishes out of school hours study support centres at sports clubs around the country.

The centre to be created at the Harlequins will use the power of rugby and the club's name and brand as a motivational tool, and focus on raising literacy, numeracy and ICT standards amongst KS2 and KS3 pupils to develop self esteem and to motivate them to become effective and independent learners.

Mark Evans, Harlequins Chief Executive Officer commented: 'This centre gives us a great opportunity to increase our local fan base as well as providing a valuable educational resource to children within the community'.

Harlequins RL, who have already been involved in the Playing for Success program with Brentford FC, are delighted with this new initiative. Kurt Pittman, Quins RL Community Manager, has said: 'This project provides another opportunity for us, and now Quins RU, to really build an educational resource in partnership with the local authority here in Richmond.'

'We learnt a lot of valuable lessons in partnering Brentford FC with the launch of the Griffin Park Learning Zone (which is based in Hounslow). That experience should prove valuable as we move forward'.
The centre will provisionally be located in the Jason Leonard suite in the Lexus stand, with its intended position being in a purpose built space in the new south stand on completion.

If you are a local business or individual and would like to get involved in this project either through sponsorship, services or volunteering as a mentor, or you just want to know more about the initiative, contact Centre Manager Lisa Fenaroli on 020 8410 6059 or 07739746259.