PAYING a visit to Twickenham for a rugby match can be an awe-inspiring occasion even for the most fanatical fans, but for one young boy from Penryn it was a truly amazing occasion.

With rugby's headquarters packed to the rafters for the two games involving the Cornish Pirates and Mount's Bay, ten-year-old Ryan Linthwaite was about to upstage both of them with an appearance at the main match of the afternoon, the EDF Energy Final between Leicester Tigers and Neath/Swansea Ospreys.

Ryan, who has two sisters, Laura (13), and Chloe (10), is a Leicester Tigers' fan and until just a couple of days before the game, was unaware that he had been invited to be the team's mascot on one of the UK's great sporting occasions.

His father, Mark Linthwaite, who is also a Tigers supporter, has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were also Welford Road fans, and contacted the club to tell them about Ryan's fanatical support for the club.

"I spoke to them mainly because of Ryan," said Mark. "He just loves Leicester Tigers and can tell you everything there is to know about the club and its players.

"We have been to the matches when we can, but I was just hoping that we could arrange for him to meet the players at a match.

"When they got back to me they said We can do more than that, we would like Ryan to be the team's mascot when we play the EDF Energy Final against the Ospreys at Twickenham'."

It was a fantastic gesture from such a big club, but not only was he the mascot but the Tigers also provided Ryan with a full playing kit in the club's colours for the day.

"Ryan just loves sport," said Mark. "He draws such an inspiration from it, but when he knew that he was going to be the mascot he was so excited.

"Martin Corry, the Tigers' skipper, was absolutely brilliant with him all the time they were in the tunnel and on the pitch. Ryan wished him good luck and Martin thanked him and also wished Ryan good luck. He said he hoped he enjoyed the rest of the day."

Having led the Tigers into the Twickenham cauldron, Ryan waved to the cheering crowd, but the day's excitement was not yet over.

The Tigers won an exciting match that thrilled the spectators, but Ryan also managed to meet his favourite Leicester and England player, Harry Ellis, and had his picture taken with him.

Ryan already had a normal Tigers shirt, but now that is adorned with the signatures of the players and is another reminder of the occasion.

It was a magical day for Ryan - and his parents Mark and Claire - but now he has come back down to earth and is back practising his tae kwon-do and, hopefully, will now be going along to Penryn Rugby Club to learn the finer arts of the game.