AN ENGLAND Women rugby star helped players from Slough and South Bucks hone their skills at a special training session hosted at Phoenix Rugby Club on Tuesday.

Amy Wilson Hardy, who made her England debut in 2013 and currently plays for Wasps in the Women’s Championship, was invited to oversee the session as a part of the Return To Rugby campaign at the Taplow-based club.

The campaign is focused on encouraging former and new players of all ages and standards to give rugby a try in the New Year.

Players from Slough and Farnham Royal put their allegiances to one side to join forces with Phoenix for an evening of fitness and fun.

Various games and drills were introduced by the 27-year-old England ace, which were designed to enhance handling skills, positioning, and on-pitch communication among teammates.

Wilson Hardy said: “Rugby can often be seen as a bit of an intimidating sport but that’s really not the case.

“I would encourage anyone who is considering getting involved in rugby to get in touch with their local club and find out for themselves what an inclusive sport it is.”

Phoenix player-coach Tony Porter added: “It was brilliant to welcome Amy to the club to put the lads through their paces. We will definitely be incorporating some of her drills into our future training.”

The next stage of the Return To Rugby campaign gets under way on this Saturday when the Phoenix Institute Road ground will play host to an inaugural 10-a-side tournament featuring developments teams from Phoenix, Farnham Royal, Slough, and Drifters.

Meanwhile, Phoenix expect to welcome more high-profile guest coaches at their Tuesday night training sessions throughout the year.

PHOENIX return to action in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Championship with a visit from Winslow this Saturday.