ON what was a spectacular day of rugby, a young boy from Penryn got the chance to take part in proceedings before kick-off at Twickenham.

Penryn Under 10s player Owen Richards, pictured above second left in front of the players, was one of the mascots selected to go out with the England team ahead of their clash with France which would decide the outcome of the 2015 Six Nations Championship.

Having won a competition a week earlier, rugby-mad Owen walked onto the hallowed turf of Twickenham in front of 82,319 supporters alongside fly-half George Ford.

Owen said: “It was great. George asked me what my name was, my age and where I was from which was very special as he is a good player and he took the time to chat to me.”

Before the national anthem was sung, inside centre Luther Burrell leaned over to Owen and the other three mascots to tell them to “sing it loud”, which they did.

As part of his VIP treatment on the day, Owen was able to watch the match in seats adjacent to the players’ tunnel and just three rows behind the national team’s bench alongside his father, uncle and grandfather.

He was also given an England kit to wear for the occasion and his name mentioned in the match day programme.

It was not the first time a member of his family has stepped onto Twickenham’s pitch as his great-great-uncle Eddie Richards played for England there in 1929.