The Big Tackle by Austin Healey

Do your forwards dance about the pitch like ballerinas? Do your backs keep running their hands through their hair.... or just round in circles? Do you need better commitment to training sessions and higher player levels? O2 and Austin will tackle these and other issues in 'The Big Tackle, with Austin Healey'.

The new show, featuring six hour long episodes, will see former England star Healey attempting to change the fortunes of five struggling rugby clubs. Austin will work with the clubs, who include students, a women's team and a team trying to regain former glories, on and off the pitch and will be calling on members of the current England team to help him with his task. Each programme will premiere on ITV4 on Sunday evenings after the Guinness Premiership Rugby highlights programme, and will be repeated midweek on ITV1.

The show is funded by England rugby sponsor O2, building on their 'grassroots to glory' support for England rugby and their ongoing commitment to the RFU's Play On Rugby campaign which aims to keep school and university players connected with rugby. The concept for 'The Big Tackle with Austin Healey' was created in association with Sport Entertainment and O2's sponsorship content agency Drum. The show is being produced by North One Television.

Mark Stevenson, Head of Sponsorship at O2 said: ‘The Big Tackle with Austin Healey’ is another demonstration of O2’s ongoing support for rugby at every level of the game from community rugby through to the England team. We’re committed to delivering engaging rugby content for fans of the game and ‘The Big Tackle with Austin Healey’ is a great vehicle to give rugby and Austin fans alike a piece of great entertainment. ITV4 is a fantastic broadcast partner to be working with to bring the exploits of Austin and the rugby clubs to the small screen and a great fit in terms of audience demographic for the show.’

For more details and an opportunity to take part in the show, head to www.itv.com/bigtackle

To watch more behind the scenes clips, go to
http://www.itv.com/Sport/RugbyUnion/BigTackle/Video/default.html

The series begins on 15 Match, ITV4 at 7.30pm - after the Premiership highlights