Boy spares rugby stars' blushes

Newcastle's shorts find could not help them to victory

A 10-year-old boy spared the blushes of Jonny Wilkinson and his Newcastle team mates by finding their stolen kits just hours before a game.

A suitcase containing the players' shorts was taken from their van, parked at a hotel, the night before the Falcons were due to meet Gloucester.

Ben Kibble found the bag outside his family's flat in Matson, Gloucs.

"We would've looked ridiculous if Ben hadn't come to the rescue," said Falcons spokesman Mark Smith.

"The way Ben helped us out on match day, we could've been in a sticky situation there, in front of 12,000 people with no shorts on."

'Naked rugby players'

Ben said: "I went out to play and I saw a black bag. My dad said 'bring it in' and there were 16 pairs of shorts with Newcastle Falcons on them. It's surprising how they got there."

His father Stuart found out that the Rugby Union team was due to play Gloucester and took the case to the Kingsholm ground.

"They were pretty shocked because they had turned up in the car park," said Mr Kibble.

"They said we were going to have a load of naked rugby players running around the pitch. They were very thankful."

The club is thanking Ben by giving him a special rugby ball signed by the players, including England fly-half Wilkinson and his international team-mates Matthew Tait, Toby Flood and Jamie Noon.

Gloucester ran out as 24-18 winners.