Three students from high schools across Ellesmere Port and Neston trod the hallowed turf at Twickenham to reveal their school’s new rugby shirts.

The pupils, Nathan Collett, 12, from Ellesmere Port Catholic High, Joel Gibbs, 17, from Neston High and Jack Ryder, 13, from the University Church of England Academy, joined England Rugby’s official anthem singer, soprano Laura Wright, on the pitch to sing the National Anthem as they revealed their school’s uniquely designed rugby shirt ahead of the RBS Six Nations match between England and Wales last month.

One hundred pupils in total were representing their respective schools, each wearing a shirt created at a Canterbury kit design workshop.

The workshops were part of All Schools, England Rugby’s programme which aims to encourage more secondary state schools to play rugby. The Ellesmere Port and Neston schools attended a workshop at Broughton Park RFC in Manchester.

With singer Laura Wright who led the National Anthem is Joel Gibbs from Neston High

During the day, a representative from the Rugby Football Union gave the schools taking part a brief history of the rugby shirt and its values and invited questions and feedback from the pupils.

One of Canterbury’s experienced shirt designers then talked them through the technical aspects of designing the shirt and things to consider when creating their own design.

The schools were then given a free hand to design the shirt they wanted for their school rugby team to compete in.

By the end of the workshop each school had decided on the final design which they presented to the rest of the groups before it was signed off and taken away by Canterbury to be worked up and put into production.

The shirts were revealed by the pupils in a spectacular display on the pitch as they sang alongside Laura Wright in front of the 82,000 sell-out crowd and a mass TV audience watching at home before they headed off to their seats to enjoy the match.

With singer Laura Wright who led the National Anthem is Nathan Collett from Ellesmere Port Catholic High

Chris Stephenson, chief executive officer of Canterbury said: “This was a truly unique day for the students involved and one I imagine they will remember for a very long time.”

Nathan told the Pioneer: “After the national anthem had finished I was relieved they hadn’t heard my singing and very excited for the game to begin.”

Mark Cavanagh, head of boys’ PE at the school, said: “The support from the RFU with the All Schools programme has allowed us to sustain a regular extra-curricular rugby union programme.”

As well as being captain of the Neston High rugby team, Joel attends after school rugby sessions where he coaches younger groups and is committed to helping others learn and progress in the sport. He also helped with the design.

At the Academy, the school drew names out of a hat to decide which pupil would represent the school and Jack, also involved in the design, was the lucky winner.