Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:55, UK
Sky Academy Ambassador Jonny Wilkinson has found being part of the programme inspiring, and says 'I could go on all day, I love it. I absolutely love it.'
World Cup winner and two-time European champion Wilkinson arrived at Goffs School on Wednesday with energy to match the 20 children picked by the Cheshunt school, before attending the Rugby Players' Association awards dinner where he was inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame.
Wilkinson is a Sky Academy Ambassador and was delivering a rugby masterclass to the Year 7 pupils after they won the Sky Academy prize draw. Goffs School were entered into the draw last month following their commitment and participation in Sky Sports Living for Sport.
For Wilkinson, initiatives such as these are encouraging to see, given how much he gained from sport in his youth.
“Sport for me was huge,” said Wilkinson. ”Family and sport ruled my childhood, and friends came through sport.
“That was the way I grew up and learnt my value system; spending time with the family and learning how that a team works, but also the team values of playing competitively - learning how to get the best out of yourself and the others around you.”
“All I remember from my youth was sport. If I remember something else it probably came from sport anyway!
“If I was hanging out with friends we were probably talking about sport - it really dominated my life, and still does. It hasn't gone anywhere and I don't think it will.”
You walk away thinking that if that young kid had someone to keep driving that energy and that passion then they could go anywhere, in anything.
Wilkinson is grateful for the time spent competing on the field over the course of his life, but maintains it was the off-field life lessons he learned as a professional sportsman that have brought him the most satisfaction.
“Everything I do from now on is going to involve the values of sport.
“With Sky Academy as an ambassador and with the Living for Sport stuff we are doing here with Goffs School, it's all been about that same stuff. The values of sport are helpful in sport, but actually very, very helpful away from sport.”
The former British and Irish Lions star coached the children through rugby drills, during which he encouraged the students to apply the skills learned on the field to everyday life.
“One of the guys said to me that there's some real potential out there. But that's the thing, there's potential in every one of those children.
“It doesn't have to be for rugby - doing the skill stuff you learn about people. Not whether they are going to be amazing rugby players, but learning about them as people.”
Wilkinson revelled in the excitement for sport shown by the children, and said it was their enthusiasm that makes his time as a Sky Academy Ambassador so enjoyable.
“All they need to do is give 100% and when they do that, you get a pure illustration of who they are and how they behave. That potential can be threaded into anything.”
“I could go on all day, I love it. I absolutely love it.”
“You walk away thinking that if that young kid had someone to keep driving that energy and that passion then they could go anywhere, in anything.
“It's very fulfilling and it's very inspiring because it's a positive experience.”
Sky Academy launched a competition open to all UK secondary schools who submit a Sky Sports Living for Sport project before 7 June 2015.
Remaining prizes will be drawn every week until 8 June and teachers who submit a Sky Sports Living for Sport project online at www.skysports.com/livingforsport qualify for weekly prize draws and also receive two free visits from a team of over 90 world-class Athlete Mentors.
Sky Sports Living for Sport is a free initiative open to all secondary schools across the UK and Ireland which uses sports stars and the skills learnt through sport to build life skills in young people.
It is part of Sky Academy, a set of initiatives using the power of TV, creativity and sport to help one million young people in the UK and Ireland build practical skills and experience to unlock their potential.
The initiative has been running in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust since 2003 and this academic year alone, more than 1,500 UK secondary schools have taken part.
To get involved and sign up to Sky Sports Living for Sport, visit www.skysports.com/livingforsport.
