Former pupil helps Central Junior end term

Tom Smith went back to his old school to help them celebrate the end of term as part of their involvement in the Ospreys Schools Programme.

The back-rower, who is working hard to return to full fitness following a knee injury, returned to Central Primary School in Port Talbot along with his Ospreys colleague Calum Davies, where they took part in a special question and answer session to round off the term, and their participation in the ground breaking educational initiative operated by the region.

Designed with the help of the three education authorities that cover Ospreylia to ensure its compatibility with the national curriculum, the programme covers different areas of education and learning including numeracy and literacy. 

It takes six weeks for pupils to work through the specially created workbooks, with teachers receiving an educational handbook to guide them through the coursework, which uses rugby - and the Ospreys in particular - as a tool for learning. 

At the end of the programme, pupils are treated to an educational visit to the stadium where the pupils go behind the scenes to learn more about the region and a visit to their school by some Ospreys players.

Smith went back to his old stomping ground, where the pair were quizzed on what it is like to be a professional rugby player, how hard they had to train and what kind of foods they ate to stay at the top of their game.

Reflecting on his return to Central, Tom said:

“I really enjoyed going back and spending some time with the pupils. It was a great trip down memory lane so many years after I was last there. The children had some fantastic questions for me and Calum, it was a great morning all round.

“As players we all really enjoy doing the school visits as part of Schools Programme. It's great to be able to get out into the community and meet the young fans who will one day come and support us at the Liberty, but this one was extra special being my old school.”

The Ospreys Schools Programme is delivered in partnership with RWE npower renewables, a leading renewable energy company in Wales, and supported by Sony UK Technology Centre, Network Rail, Save Britain Money and the Welsh Rugby Union.