Young Barnstaple rugby star enjoys experience of a lifetime at Twickenham

Edolie Wilson enjoyed the experience of a lifetime at the weekend as he trod the turf at Twickenham during the Premiership Rugby Final and met legendary Lion Sam Warburton.

Wilson, 11, who plays for Barnstaple’s Rugby Club, won the opportunity to rub shoulders with English rugby’s elite after impressing at Exeter Chief’s Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup Festival.

This successful series of nationwide rugby festivals, now running for nearly two decades and organised by Land Rover – the Official Vehicle of Premiership Rugby – has seen more than 100,000 children take part to date, with some realising their dreams of going on to play for Premiership Rugby clubs.

Each Premiership Rugby Club hosted a festival this season, with the U12 winning team and the successful U11 team decided based on their demonstration of the core values of the game, getting the chance to take part in the half-time Parade of Champions on the pitch at Twickenham and meeting a host of Land Rover ambassadors.

Graduates of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup have gone on to realise their rugby ambitions, with several players now playing for Premiership Rugby clubs, including Louis Lynagh at Harlequins and Callum Chick at Newcastle Falcons.

Wilson said: “I was just amazed that we got to come here, to Twickenham. It’s just amazing.”

Barnstaple U11s head coach Richard Ballard, 57, singled out Edolie for her performances over the season, and was overjoyed with the way the whole team conducted themselves.

“Edolie is a sponge,” Ballard said. “We, say things to her, she picks it up and does it. No matter what you say, she will try and give you 110 percent. I want to see in 10, 15 years’ time Edolie playing for England. She’s got that much potential.

“The big