Leicester Tigers star Manu Tuilagi saved Christmas for youngsters at a rugby club by turning up as Santa.

The 26-year-old England player answered a last-minute appeal by Melton Junior Rugby Club after the original Santa called in sick.

Under-7s coach Becky Box posted a message on Facebook at 3pm on Friday - just three hours before the party, complete with Santa’s grotto, was due to begin.

A crowd of 70 youngsters in the clubhouse, off Burton Road, were amazed and delighted when a familiar-looking Santa arrived.

Club secretary Jenny Beech, who organised the party with club chairman Debra Gilbert, said: “When Manu walked in and removed his beard everyone was absolutely blown away.

“Some of the kids were so excited because they are really big rugby fans.

“The children couldn’t wait to go into the grotto to see Santa and a lot of the mums were also going in to sit on Santa’s knee.

“In fact, some of the mums were pushing in front of the youngsters to get to Santa. The grotto has never been so popular.”

(Image: Jenny Beech)

Manu, who lives in a village near Melton, was alerted to the club’s Facebook SOS message by his older brother, Freddie Tuilagi Senior.

Freddie Senior has run rugby camps at the club, whose first team has won the county cup for the last two years in a row, and has social media connections with some of Melton’s players and coaches.

Freddie and his son Freddie Tuilagi Junior accompanied Manu on the visit.

The children all received a wrapped up sweet selection box when they visited the grotto.

The rugby star spent around an hour talking to children and having his photo taken with them.

“Some of the younger ones didn’t know who he was but they were happy that Santa had arrived,” said Jenny.

“But a lot of the kids recognised him and the adults were amazed because most of them had no idea he was going to suddenly turn up.

“Manu was absolutely brilliant - he was a really genuine guy.

“He stayed a while to talk to the children and have his photo taken with him.

(Image: Jenny Beech)

“What warmed my heart was that we didn’t approach him to do it.

“He just heard about the message on social media and wanted to come along and help us out.

“We went from not having Santa to having one of the most famous rugby players in the world.

“Manu really did save Christmas for our kids - and our mums too.”