England star Paul Sackey picked up a paintbrush and lent a hand as Frampton Cotterell RFC went to work on a £5,000 makeover of its facilities.

The club was chosen as one of three national winners of the RBS RugbyLink competition – and Wasps winger Sackey's appearance capped a hugely successful weekend.

Despite missing out on England's summer matches through injury, Sackey was in good spirits as he coached children and helped club volunteers with the renovation work at their Crossbow House home. Frampton's Andy Pullen, who launched the club's successful bid for the RBS RugbyLink prize, said: "We had a great weekend and achieved everything we set out to plus more.

"We had almost 70 volunteers there, plus Steve Webb MP and Paul Sackey, who really got involved.

"Some of the kids came with their rugby kits, and Paul was more than happy to have a bit of fun and pass the ball to them. His leg has only just come out of a cast, so he was limited in what he could do, but he got involved as much as he could.

"We showed him all the work we were doing and he wanted to help out, so he picked up a paintbrush and a roller and did his bit!"

The club, which runs three senior teams and a 300-strong kids' section from under-6s to under-17s, was the only club in England chosen for the award.

Pullen added: "A good weekend was had by all and, quite frankly, the place has been completely transformed."