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 England internationals Paul Sackey and James Haskell were the stars of the show when the RFU and O2’s Scrum on the Beach roadshow hit Great Yarmouth for the first time on Saturday.

The Norfolk seaside resort had not witnessed anything quiet like it before as holidaymakers mingled with the players and supporters from local rugby club sides from all around the area, playing beach rugby against each other on the sand opposite the Marine Parade.

Within the four pitch, bright blue, inflatable O2 arena 23 teams lined up during the day against each other comprising men, women and children of all ages and playing tag rugby, the popular non-contact version of the sport.

Haskell, making his fifth roadshow appearance since the RFU and O2 launched the initiative in 2008, even managed to help out a couple of the teams during the afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed his first trip to Great Yarmouth.

“There’s a real local spirit here with all the ball-boys and the guys running it from local rugby teams, while a lot of people from the surrounding areas have also come down," said Haskell

“It’s been a very good atmosphere and while the weather has not been the best people have been showing that good old English bulldog spirit and turning out.”

The England pair spent around an hour-and-a-half just signing autographs while they also tried out the other attractions of the day including the bucking rugby ball – neither stayed on! - and the Batak stage where wingman Sackey’s speedy reactions were too much for his international team mate.

“The fun people have here, including myself, is just great,” he commented. “The atmosphere and the people who’ve turned out has been really terrific. The beach is lovely, the people have been nice and friendly and it’s a really good venue.”

And, the man with the job of ensuring all went well on the day, the RFU’s Leisure Rugby Manager Dan Brown, was equally as pleased.

“It’s been fantastic and I’m really pleased. There was a great turn out of teams, a full house, and while it didn’t rain we could have done better with the weather. But, hopefully, next year the sun might shine on us," said Brown.

The RFU’s O2 Scrum on the Beach moves to Southport this Saturday (18th) before visiting Boscombe Beach, Bournemouth (July 25), Weymouth Beach, Dorset (Aug 1), Tynemouth Longsands Beach, Newcastle (Aug 8/9), Skegness Beach, Lincolnshire (Aug 15), Lusty Glaze Beach, Newquay (Aug 28-30).