A RUGBY-LOVER will proudly show off a shirt he helped design at the RBS 6 Nations England v Italy match at Twickenham THIS Valentine’s Day.

Winsford Academy student Ellis Rowland, 16, will join the England stars on the pitch at Twickenham before kick-off for their RBS 6 Nations match against Italy on February 14.

Ellis will be wearing a rugby shirt especially designed by a group of pupils from the Winsford Academy at a Canterbury Kit Design workshop held last year.

Ellis said: "I’m really excited about attending Twickenham next week and am looking forward to the whole experience especially being up and close to the England team.

"It is a real honour that I have been chosen and would like to thank Mr Hunt for giving me this opportunity to represent the academy."

Ellis will be joined by 99 other pupils who took part in workshops across the UK who will all be wearing their school’s own unique design.

Gareth Hunt, Director for Sport & PE at Winsford Academy said: “Ellis is the school ‘Sports Captain’ and has always represented the school to a high standard in whatever sport he has participated.

“He has been part of the school rugby team throughout the five years at the Winsford Academy and was fortunate to take part in the Junior International Rugby Festival held at Disneyland Paris in April 2012."

“He was involved in the design of the shirt at the Canterbury workshop so was the obvious choice to represent the school on the pitch at Twickenham. “He’s really looking forward to it.”

Winsford MP Stephen O'Brien visited the Winsford Academy to find out how the All Schools Programme, a legacy of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, is benefiting local school children in Eddisbury.

Winsford MP Stephen  O'Brien said: “It is brilliant to see a nationwide initiative impacting the lives of our school children here in Eddisbury.

"The extent of the funding has been a huge boost to the sports programme offered at the Winsford Academy, and the pupils I spoke to are enjoying getting to grips with one of our favourite national sports.”