Strettle enjoys banter as O2 Rugby Reunion builds to The Big One

England Rugby squad members David Strettle, Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye, Dave Attwood and Paul Doran-Jones will join the fun at Kneller Hall in Twickenham on Sunday September 5 as ‘The Big One’ marks the grand finale of this year’s O2 Rugby Reunion.

O2 Rugby Reunion is a nationwide initiative supported by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to encourage players who have drifted away from rugby to get back involved with the game they love.

Throughout the summer players have been reconnected by using the specially created Facebook application and getting back together in a series of touch rugby events across the country.

‘The Big One’ finale at Kneller Hall offers touch rugby for anyone over the age of 16 and all players, male and female, and particularly those in the 16 to 24 age group, are invited to take part, either by registering at www.facebook.com/o2ukofficialor simply turning up to play on the day.

David Strettle is one of the England Rugby players attending the O2 Rugby Reunion finale at Kneller Hall

It really is that easy to get involved with a day of free and fun rugby-related activities and touch rugby, including the chance to meet and get rugby tips from members of the England Rugby squad. There will also be the national finals for the O2 Rugby Reunion regional winners.

Strettle has a fresh spring in his step after going on tour with England to Australia and New Zealand during the summer, and he is hoping to resume his Test career after an injury-hit two years since he won the most recent of his six caps.

The 27-year-old Warrington-born wing has joined Saracens from Harlequins for the new season, and he has a positive attitude to everything rugby has to offer.

“It’s every player’s dream to play for their country and I count myself extremely lucky to have had that privilege,” said Strettle.

“I came through from playing for Rotherham to joining Quins and representing England but all the time I appreciated that rugby union is as much about the fun and the camaraderie off the pitch as it is about what you achieve on it.

“It is sometimes easy for young players to lose the connection when they move home for work reasons or to go into higher education, but the O2 Rugby Reunion idea makes it easy for them to get back together with their mates.

“The banter is great, and touch rugby is a good way of keeping fit and rediscovering the fun of just throwing a rugby ball around.”

Mike Catt, 2003 Rugby World Cup winner and now London Irish attack coach, will also be at Kneller Hall to support the finale of O2 Rugby Reunion.

‘The Big One’ begins with registration for teams at 11am for an 11.30am start. There is free parking at Kneller Hall for O2 Rugby Reunion participants, limited to two cars per team. And the event is followed by the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup which has a 5.15pm kick-off and is just a short walk away at the Twickenham Stoop.

To find out more about the RFU’s retention campaign, ‘Play On’ visit: www.rfu.com/playon