RUGBY star, Josh Charnley received a pitch-side grilling from an eight-year-old reporter at Sale Sharks' first home game of the season.

Henry Hatfield, a pupil at Navigation Road Primary School in Altrincham, was the winner of the #touchlinereporter competition, run by specialist lender, Together, one of the rugby club’s corporate sponsors.

Children had to come up with three questions to ask the 26-year-old Sale star, and Henry claimed first place.

Henry interviewed Josh ahead of the game against Newcastle Falcons at the AJ Bell stadium. He asked the Premiership star about his inspiration to become a rugby player and his least favourite training exercises.

Henry said: “It was my first ever rugby game, so it was awesome that I got the chance to meet Josh before the match and ask him my questions.”

Kevin Fisher, Together’s HR director, said: “We wanted to encourage youngsters to get creative by thinking up questions which reflect rugby’s core values and the group felt that Henry’s really stood out.

“The competition, which was set up by volunteers from our ‘Let’s get Creative’ group, was a great success and Henry did a fantastic job on the night. We are hoping that we can work with Sharks Community Trust to take the #touchlinereporter out to the wider community in the future and give even more children this amazing opportunity.”

Together, which announced a two-year-sponsorship deal with Sale Sharks earlier this year, is working closely with the Sale Sharks Community Trust and held a colleague dress-down day Friday, to raise funds for ‘In the Pack’ - the Sharks’ inclusive wheelchair rugby programme.

Together's 'Let’s get Creative’ group is part of the company’s wider ‘Let’s make it count’ initiative which spans charity, community and the environment