KENT schoolteacher Pete Norton is off to India this month to coach children how to play Tag Rugby.

The sports co-ordinator of the Astor School, Dover, is one of a team of 12 volunteers working for an organisation called The Tag Rugby Development Trust (TRDT) who will depart for a 10-day tour of Bhubaneswa state on October 25.

Mr Norton said: "We will be coaching Tag Rugby to children at different primary schools, linking up with local rugby volunteers and organising a festival of rugby between all the schools.

"The aim is to introduce the sport to schools that have never played rugby before. It’s a grass roots approach, but we link up with the local rugby unions to ensure that the work we do is in support of their junior development programmes.

"Ultimately, we are increasing the profile of rugby and boosting participation and coach levels.

"We will leave enough equipment in the schools to enable them to continue developing the game after we have returned home – something that has worked well on previous tours."