CLAYESMORE school will welcome two-time Rugby World Cup winner and All Black Jerome Kaino to Dorset in the new year as a guest coach.

It is part of Clayesmore’s attempt to adopt the “tactics and skills of lesser contact play” in order to reduce safety concerns whilst playing Rugby Union.

Kaino, currently assistant skills coach with Stade Toulousain, will help teach both Clayesmore students and staff alike the French club’s “evasion-based play”.

The former New Zealand international will travel across with colleagues from France, also working with coaches from Bath Rugby, including head of academy Craig Lilley.

A Clayesmore statement read: “With rugby hitting the headlines on a weekly basis and the debate rolling on about excessive contact in the professional game and at schoolboy level; we at Clayesmore are committed to finding ways for this great game to be played in a safer way. 

“This is not a local or national issue, it is global - and the future of rugby hangs in the balance.

“We want to take positive action to safeguard the future of rugby (at school level anyway!) and know that it begins with coaching the tactics and skills of lesser contact play. 

“That is why we have forged a partnership with Stade Toulousain; to learn from the most successful club in European history on their style of evasion-based play.

“Clayesmore School are delighted to bring Stade Toulousain to Dorset, along with Bath RFC and two other schools in the (south-west) region, Monkton Coombe and KESBath on 12, January 2024. 

“Stade Toulousain champion a safer style of play, and it is an absolute coup to bring them to Clayesmore and for them to share their ideology and training with our coaches and pupils.

“We are thrilled to welcome them here.”