Sir Clive Woodward is clearly enjoying a trip down memory lane when he steps onto the immaculate turf at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

The Rugby World Cup-winning coach trained on the university’s pitches in the build-up to winning his first cap for England as a player in 1980.

So where better, then, for Sir Clive to hold a ground-breaking summer training camp for skiing’s top young talent as he pursues his plans of building an elite academy in Tignes, France.

Sir Clive cast the net wide in his bid to inspire the youngsters, including listing the help of eye specialist Sherylle Calder and James Bond free runner Sebastien Foucan, the founder of ‘Parkour’ who starred in the opening scene of Casino Royale with Daniel Craig.

“We’ve brought together some of the best young skiers in England and France and given them a really exciting programme at St Mary’s,” said Sir Clive, a visiting professor at the institution.

“It’s surreal returning to the exact same pitch I trained on so many years ago where I was interviewed by legendary rugby commentator Bill McLaren.  

“In those days there was just a pitch, and the sports halls, which are here today hadn’t been built.

“I have good memories from here and it’s great to be back, it’s a fantastic university and we’re delighted to use their facilities.”

Sir Clive’s career is by no means the only one launched by St Mary's and its provision for elite athletes. 

Former student Mo Farah lived and worked at its Twickenham campus for ten years, helping him on his way to quadruple long-distance Olympic gold.

It is nothing short of a nursery for Olympians and St. Mary’s has hosted facilities for legendary Paralympian David Weir and double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Romero. 

It was also the training venue of choice for athletes from ten different competing nations at the London 2012 Games. 

The Tignes Club des Sports athletes, potential stars of tomorrow, trained with Foucan at Twickenham Stadium and also took sessions with Sherylle Calder, a vision specialist who worked with Sir Clive’s Rugby World Cup winners in 2003.

Paris-born Foucan, widely heralded as the global founder of Parkour, revelled in the opportunity to work with the under-14 athletes from France and England.

“We have everything we need at this university and the facilities are special,” said Foucan.

“The world is our playground and it’s great, because there are lots of different surfaces for us to work on here.

“Parkour is the most functional discipline in the world – it’s what we all do as children, swimming, jumping, climbing, everything.

“Parkour can be perceived as dangerous, rebellious and damaging and we’re trying to show the kids that it’s not like that."