Richards support for old school Cleveland

Dean Richards is the most famous old boy of the Hinckley school and the rest of the Leicester connection have been out in force for coaching sessions during the cup run. The former England captain and Leicester coach hopes to be at Twickenham to support his old school.

One of his great friends is the father of Tom Wheatcroft, the John Cleveland fly half.

But he has left the coaching to Leicester stars Graham Rowntree, Ollie Smith, Sam Vesty and Luke Myhring who have all kept close links with John Cleveland and want the name of one of England's best rugby state schools on the Under 15 Cup as well as the Under 18 Plate (now Vase) which they won in 1996.

For centre Smith, a real prospect for England's next World Cup team, and fly half Vesty, it is also a chance to put the record straight. They were both in John Cleveland's 1997 Under 15 team who lost narrowly in the semi-finals after leading at half time.

"If I'm honest this is probably a better side if only for the fact they are so focused,' said Smith. 'And they do listen and put into practice what you tell them. Definitely more mature than we were!'

John Cleveland coach Paul Walsh, who has overseen both Smith's 1997 side and this team, believes the current vintage is the best the school has produced but is indebted to the old boys.

'They have been able to talk to them about playing at Twickenham, how to prepare mentally and cope with nerves.'

They know they will have to be at their best to preserve a 26-match unbeaten record for opponents Sherborne have been a revelation in their debut season. If anything, the well-drilled Dorset school were the pick of the semi-finalists with their great rucking and safe hands.

Significantly, they also played without a hint of nerves. But how they cope with the big and combative John Cleveland pack will be the key to this game.

What is undeniable is that they are taking the cup very seriously. Sherborne usually play hockey and football after Christmas but Director of Sport David Scott has had to reschedule their sports programme and getting hockey coach Rob Hill on board to help has eased tensions!

Their only defeat this season to Millfield is a distant memory before Christmas and Scott said: 'We have had a very smooth season. There are no real stars in the team yet we have no real weaknesses. It will take avery good side to beat us.'