Ex-England ace Leonard in county
A former England rugby player will be the guest speaker at a sportsman's dinner raising money to pay for a Shropshire school's tour of two African countries.
Jason Leonard will be speaking before guests of the event at Adams' Grammar School in Newport on March 6.
The evening has been organised by the school's students and parents to fundraise for the boys' rugby tour of South Africa and Namibia which will take place this summer.
Leonard is an English former rugby union prop forward, who held the world record for winning the most international caps until 2005, and the record for total international appearances when his five caps with the British and Irish Lions were included. His record as the world's most-capped forward still stands.
As an England player, Leonard won the highest international accolades possible including grand slams in 1991, 1992, 1995 and 2003 and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He also won a British and Irish Lions Test series on the 1997 tour of South Africa.
Tim Byrne, one of the organisers, said they had managed to get Leonard to appear through someone who knew him personally.
He said: "We knew we had to get someone of that stature. We were quite fortunate."
The 16 to 18-year-olds going on the tour will be acting as waiters at the event. Tickets are £45, to include a four-course dinner. There will be further entertainment with a comedian and a sports auction.
Tables of 10 are available, or individual tickets. Contact Mr Byrne at timbyrne1@btinternet.com or 07831 175564.
