Schoolwork is the main thing - Orford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Schoolwork is the main thing - Orford

2:48pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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Rugby league may have given Matt Orford a living.

But the Bradford Bulls half-back had a key message for schoolchildren when they visited him at the Grattan Stadium.

“Schoolwork is the most important thing,” said the 31-year-old to a group of Dixons Allerton Academy pupils who were visiting Odsal for a Sky Sports Living for Rugby Masterclass.

“However, once your homework has been done, if you have a sporting talent then go for it.”

Orford pointed out that he hadn’t put all his eggs into the rugby league basket.

He said: “I am a qualified personal trainer and, once my playing career has finished, I might have a go at coaching.

"I like being with kids, helping them to learn and seeing the smiles on their faces.”

Orford and the Bulls’ player performance manager Stuart Barrow put the nine youngsters through the basics of rugby league during the day-long session, which Sky Sports Living for Sport held in conjunction with Sky TV and the Youth Sport Trust.

Barrow said: “Only two of the nine had played rugby league before so we did some catching and passing drills before going on to a question-and-answer session with Matt.”

Orford, who explained to the youngsters that he had been a full-time rugby league player for 11 years, encouraged them to work hard at whatever they did and, if it was sport, there was a chance that they would be spotted by a talent scout.

He said: “It’s great to be able to give something back so soon after joining Super League.

"I really enjoyed getting involved and helping some of the young people on the Sky Sports Living for Sport scheme learn new rugby skills.

“It’s a really positive initiative which motivates and inspires thousands of young people through sport, and it can give them social skills as well as sporting skills.”

Carl Brotherton, who plays for West Bowling under-13s, was one of the few youngsters who has tried rugby league before but 14-year-old Claire Spencer and 13-year-old Hakim Zani hadn’t.

Claire said: “I have done karate before,” while Hakim added: “We learnt how to catch and pass the ball.”

Sport can certainly broaden one’s horizons, and that has certainly happened to Orford recently.

He said: “It is great to have the opportunity to play in England, but it is so cold over here.

"I was training the other week and it started snowing, and that has never happened to me before.”