The fairy-tale continued for Banbury RFC’s Jake Perkins after he joined Premiership Rugby’s biggest names at a star-studded season launch at Twickenham last week. Perkins, 11, who will start at Banbury Academy in September, rubbed shoulders with the likes of England trio Ben Youngs, James Haskell and Dylan Hartley as the world’s media descended on Twickenham.

The youngster was invited to England HQ by Land Rover to mark its Testimonial Season which celebrates ten-years supporting grassroots rugby in the UK through their sponsorship of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup.

Last season Perkins was hand-picked at a Northampton Saints-run tournament, where he was selected as the competition’s MVP and was rewarded by appearing at Twickenham back in May for the Premiership Final.

As a promising young rugby player, Perkins enjoyed the chance to spend some time with Northampton star Dylan Hartley, picking up some vital tips.

“I was nervous to walk out on the pitch, as Twickenham is a big place,” said Perkins, who met Dylan Hartley in the Land Rover tournament he played in.

“I know that some of the greatest players who have ever played rugby have played on that pitch that I stood on, so it all just came back to me and I feel really lucky.

“I think Dylan is one of the best players I’ve ever seen, he’s a role model, apart from his slender aggression to the game, but I think that can be good sometimes.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Land Rover Premiership Cup again at the start of this season, so I can hopefully come to Twickenham again!”

The Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is a series of national grassroots rugby festivals for U11 and U12 rugby teams.

Run in conjunction with all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs, the regional rugby events are an essential part of the UK rugby calendar. To date, nearly 70,000 youngsters have participated in the tournament since its inception.

Land Rover ambassador and former England rugby captain, Lewis Moody, commented: “Over the years, I have had the chance to meet many of the youngsters to have taken part in the Land Rover Premiership Cup and have seen first-hand the importance of these grassroots rugby festivals,” said Moody.

“The rugby skills, values, teamwork and sheer enjoyment the young rugby players take away are invaluable to the good health of the sport.”

Land Rover is celebrating its ‘Testimonial Season’; ten years of the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. The national series of grassroots rugby festivals is testament to Land Rover’s continued support of grassroots rugby through its ‘We Deal in Real’ campaign. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal