Will Greenwood is looking to ‘kick doors down’ for Royston RFC after making his first appearance at the club on Sunday.

The England World Cup winner was handed the role of honorary board member at the Crows as part of a NatWest RugbyForce initiative – a nationwide programme that helps grassroots clubs to attract new members and form a legacy and sustainability – last month.

Throughout the pitch-up-and-play event Greenwood attended his first club AGM, talking through future plans at the Heath and how he can use his expertise to help with the struggles Royston face as a grassroots rugby club and it was an experience the former Leicester Tigers and Harlequins man enjoyed.

Greenwood told the Crow: “The club have an incredible leadership team and wonderful coaching aspirations without ever hiding away from realisation that there will be challenges put in front of them be it facilities, sponsorship or playing numbers.

“I’ve had the opportunity to look around and see everyone from the first team all the way down to the U5s and through to the newish ladies’ section which must have had 25 to 30 girls which is incredible.

“I hope to bring different angles, a different slant and some ideas. I’m quite good at kicking doors down and opening doors and getting access to people that they might not have had access to or coming down and joining in with first-team training or providing or helping to raise some money.

“On the back of talks we will work out how best to use me and however that is I will do my classic northern thing and dive in with both feet.”

Royston, who ply their trade in Herts/Middlesex Division One, are unsurprisingly bristling with optimism for what lies ahead.

Sponsorship and development manager, Mick Clarke, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome a legend like Will Greenwood. The future for Royston Rugby Club is looking positive and to have someone of Will’s stature to make a statement that he can see that potential, believes in us and is going to accompany us every step of the way is awesome.

“We’ve had so much expansion in terms of membership over the years with 350 kids playing, a women’s rugby team established, a touch rugby team established and a really strong group of seniors. The real challenge is how we are able to sustain that and grow.”