Harry hosts a royal rugby lesson

Prince Harry hopes to promote rugby among children in England

Schoolchildren were in for a royal surprise when they took to the playing fields to find their new rugby coach for the day was Prince Harry.

The rugby-mad 20-year-old hosted a game of tag rugby for youngsters at a West Midlands primary school on Tuesday.

A coaching qualification allows the Prince to teach non-contact tag rugby and 15-a-side rugby, ahead of him joining the army next year.

His new role is aimed at promoting the sport among children in England.

The visit to Greenfields Primary School, in Walsall, was the first of many planned over the next six weeks in his voluntary position of Assistant Rugby Development Officer for the country's main rugby body, the Rugby Football Union.

Pick me: Prince Harry coaches rugby to school children

Speaking after the lesson, Prince Harry said: "I'm really enjoying my time helping to coach rugby.

"The kids are great fun and I am looking forward to trying to encourage more kids around the country to play rugby - after all we are the world champions."

The RFU's community rugby and operations director Terry Burwell said: "Harry's played and watched rugby at the highest level. He's been around some of our best players.

"He has an empathy with young people. Whether he's teaching rugby or teaching about life, he will enthuse people."

Tag rugby is a non-contact version of the sport in which players wear velcro tags around their waists which are grabbed instead of tackling opponents.