THOUSANDS of rugby fans packed the seafront as O2 Scrum on the Beach touched down in Great Yarmouth.England stars Paul Sackey and James Sackey bought star quality to the beach rugby tournament, which is on a national tour of seaside resorts.

THOUSANDS of rugby fans packed the seafront as O2 Scrum on the Beach touched down in Great Yarmouth.

England stars Paul Sackey and James Sackey bought star quality to the beach rugby tournament, which is on a national tour of seaside resorts.

Saturday's event was a first introduction to the sport for many of those taking part.

It proved an occasion to remember for Newtown Saints who were selected to take part in a tag rugby tournament at Twickenham by Sackey and Haskell.

The team, of 11-year-olds from Newtown Youth Club, who had never played rugby before, won the fair play award.

Club chairman and team manager Julie Harding said: “I was 100 feet tall it was just amazing, absolutely incredible.

“The players made us feel so proud and are so excited to be playing at Twickenham, it will be an amazing experience. They had never played before, but took to it like ducks to water and absolutely love rugby now.”

Around 5,000 spectators watched the action with around 250 players taking part.

Broadland-Great Yarmouth Rugby Club chairman Asa Morrison said: “It was an absolutely fantastic event and wonderful for local rugby. We have already asked the RFU to bring it back next year.”

Newtown Saints squad members were Jamie Blackshire, Jack Hargreaves, Shane Rooney, Adina Goodrum, Richie Fabian, James Nichols, Ben Harding, Michael Pyewell, Hamilton Boast, Julie Killick and Charlie Killick-Catchpole.

Alan Carr, head of tourism at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, who was watching the event, said: “I am blown away by what they have done. They promised so much and they have delivered what they promised. I hope this will be an annual event - the beach is the perfect venue. It is helping trade at the caf�s, which is great news