RUGBY World Cup winner Simon Shaw says England needs more coaches like Dean Bennett, after describing the Corringham man’s achievement’s at the club as “the stuff dreams are made of”.

Shaw visited Oakfield after Thurrock Rugby Club’s under-15s coach Bennett was named one of just four coaches in the country to have won a national competition.

The ‘QBE Insurance My Coach’ award aims to recruit and train 2,015 new level two coaches and Shaw was the rugby legend who led the session, offering advice on scrummaging, line-outs and team-work to the excited youngsters.

Bennett resurrected the youth team after taking over in 2014, more than doubling the club’s numbers when it looked like the team would fold and helping the team to promotion that year.

And ex-Wasps lock Shaw, World Cup winner with England in 2003, said Bennett was an inspiration for coaches across the country.

“It is fantastic,” he said. “I know what he has done and it is incredibly inspiring. To take a team that could barely play seven-a-side rugby and encouraging people to stay and grow and create an atmosphere like this is wonderful. It is the stuff dreams are made of.

“I was a football lover as a kid but someone very similar to Dean encouraged me to pick up a rugby ball and my life changed.

“It is important to nurture talent and I have seen enough here to know this club will grow and the kids will continue to enjoy their rugby.”

Bennett was nominated by Dave Graham and Chris Sullivan, both members of the club, after he stepped in to rejuvenate the young side against the odds.

He took over at the start of the 2014-15 season after he was backed by a number of parents to take the role following a dismal previous season that had seen the club fulfil just one league fixture due to lack of numbers. But Bennett, a former Royal engineer, refused to quit and the team steadily grew in numbers.

“I am overwhelmed to win the award but I am more pleased for the players that they can benefit from listening to someone like Simon,” said Bennett.

“The fact the boys nominated me is special enough but to win is something else.”