CHILDREN as young as three are learning to play rugby in Westbury-on-Severn.

Westbury Rugby Club has set up an innovative 'rugby cubs' section for three to six-year-olds and it's proving a huge smash, with more than 20 boys and girls turning up for training sessions every week.

Don Parsons – a rugby development officer with the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union and Lydney's new forwards coach – helped launch the section with his wife Emma.

Emma explained: "We've got a four-year-old and we were taking him to Cheltenham to play.

"Don said 'there are so many clubs in the Forest and it's such a big rugby area, why don't we start up our own club?"

Very few rugby clubs in the country cater for players younger than seven, let alone three.

However, Emma insists you're never too young to get into the sport.

She said: "A lot of the youngsters who come to us have mums and dads who play or follow rugby and the kids love running around with a ball.

"It's completely safe and controlled and there's no contact, we don't even play tag rugby.

"It's about developing balance, co-ordination, throwing, catching, running and learning lessons. The games are short and snappy."

The project at Westbury has been so successful that Don now wants to launch a second club for three to six-year-olds at Lydney RFC.

Emma added: "We're not asking too much of the children. It's about building confidence with a ball and just having fun."