THIS IS WHAT becomes of rugby players that get knocked out of rugby’s top competitions before the business end of the season.

The British and Irish Lions that are not on Heineken and Amlin Cup duty togged out at the Castlepark pitch in the Vale of Glamorgan today to coach a lucky troop of youngsters as part of the HSBC Lions Cubs Day.

Players such as Jamie Roberts, Paul O’Connell and Lions captain Sam Warburton were involved in the coaching session that included a run-out of teams mixed with school-going youth and international experience.

After an enjoyable morning of rugby, drills and posing for pictures, the cubs were invited along to lunch with the Lions.

‘Aren’t you too old for toys?’ ‘Not a bit,” replies Stuart Hogg. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Eager to impress their heroes, the boys and girls tucked into their vegetables with minimum fuss while the squad’s resident joker, Adam Jones regaled them with tales of Springboks and Wallabies.

Brian O’Driscoll signs on for 1 more year with Leinster and Ireland

According to Jamie Heaslip, it’s the Irish and British Lions