A SEDBERGH school team has been crowned winners of a national rugby tournament on the hallowed turf of Twickenham.

The U15s team ran out 24-17 winners against a strong Wellington College side in the final of the coveted Natwest Schools Cup.

It was the first time that a team from Sedbergh had reached the final and youngsters from the famous rugby school proved too strong for their spirited opponents.

Tries from No 8 Harry Hill and centres Fraser Jones and George Barber took the game away from Wellington to cap a memorable day in London, with the likes of Will Carling OBE and Piers Morgan among the 2,000-strong crowd. Sedbergh also took a strong following to the game with seven coaches taking supporters to the game.

Saracens and England hooker Jamie George, who played in the same competition 10 years ago, was watching from the stands.

"It is so promising to see such talented young players taking part in the NatWest Schools Cup and being given the opportunity to prove themselves on the biggest stage of all, here at Twickenham," he said.

"I have been really impressed with the quality on show, particularly from Sedbergh. I hope they cherish today’s win and that we see these promising young players follow the pathway many of the England squad have taken, from the NatWest Schools Cup, through the age-grade system and onto representing their country.”

The NatWest Schools Cup is the largest tournament for schoolboy rugby, where school teams compete regionally and then nationally for the chance to play at Twickenham and clinch the coveted trophy.

The U15 tournament has been running for 27 years followed closely by the U18 tournament, which is in its 25th season.