Children from a Watford primary school learned to “kick bullying into touch” this week during a visit by Saracens and England rugby legend Richard Hill.

Wearing green t-shirts sporting the slogan 'Kicking Bullying into Touch', the Year 4 pupils from Field Junior School played a series of rugby-based games designed to help them understand and speak out against bullying as part of national Anti-Bullying Week on Tuesday.

Later that day, at half time during Saracens match against world champions South Africa at Wembley Stadium, the children ran out onto the pitch in front of 46,000 fans to enjoy a game of tag rugby.

World Cup winner Richard, who lifted the Webb Ellis trophy with England in 2003, said: “It's all about kicking bullying out of schools. We're trying to use rugby as a means of showing what can be done. We're trying to communicate ways in which they can report it if they feel like they're being bullied.”

‘Kicking Bullying into Touch’ is a programme created by the 12 Guinness Premiership rugby clubs and ChildLine.

The programme uses some of rugby’s most well known players to talk to children aged between six and 11 years about bullying.

Richard's visit to Field Junior School, in Watford Fields Road, marked the start of the second year of the programme after more than 17,000 children took part in the first year.

Ambassadors from all 12 clubs are featured in a DVD distributed to children as part of the programme, which is then delivered to schools by club players.

In total, Saracens will visit 30 local schools to deliver the anti-bullying message.

Richard, who retired in 2008, said: “I'm fully supporting our involvement in making sure we get the key messages out that bullying is not acceptable in schools and social environments.

“At Saracens we're aware that the community is our lifeblood. We very much want to be closely linked with our local school children so we use it as an avenue to enhance some of the values rugby can bring to local communities.

“We also use it to make sure we get these serious messages across.”

Julie Henley, headteacher of Field Junior School, said: “The school has a good sporting link with Saracens. We launched Anti-Bullying Week last Friday and we thought to get the message across through a sporting medium is really good for children.

“They are going to watch the rugby and play on the pitch at half time. They are all enthusiastic and that's a good way to get the message across.”

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker and Chris Cloke, the head of children protection awareness at the NSPCC, also visited Field Junior School, where they revealed this year's Anti-Bullying Week would address new technology.

Mr Cloke, who is also chairman of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: “Bullying used to only happen at schools but now it happens outside of school 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Mr Coaker added: “It's really good to see Richard Hill here with Saracens teaching the kids about bullying.

“There's still an issue with bullying. I know there is, particularly with cyber bullying and name calling. The important thing is giving young people confidence to come forward and encourage an attitude to get them to speak up. Tell a teacher, tell a friend, tell your parents and it can be dealt with.”