John Hennessy will ‘grow’ more than three-and-a-half feet when he leads his beloved Matson out at Twickenham on Sunday.

The second row, who has been captain of the club for an incredible 12 seasons, admits he will feel 10 feet tall when he steps out onto the pitch for the RFU Intermediate Cup final against Kenilworth.

“It will be the proudest moment of my rugby life, one million per cent,” said Hennessy, who was speaking to The Local Answer at the start of the week.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in, I’ve been in a bit of a daze. But the closer we get the more realistic it is becoming, I can’t wait for the game to start.”

And he’s not the only one who is feeling that way after their remarkable 19-18 semi-final win at Old Colfeians last month – they trailed 18-0 at half-time – earned them their place at Twickenham.

“It’s amazing,” continued Hennessy, “but talking to the lads I don’t think we realise how big it is, it hasn’t hit home.”

And in many ways that’s hardly surprising when you consider how deep they had to dig to overcome Old Colfeians.

“We don’t do things the easy way,” added Hennessy. “We don’t do ourselves any favours. But it was amazing when we won, it was so emotional.”

And what makes it just that bit extra special is that Matson Rugby Club, from the day they were founded in 1957, have always been a true grassroots rugby club.

“I think 20 of our 22-man squad at Old Colfeians came through the age groups at Matson,” said Hennessy, who has been with the club some some 18 years since joining at the age of 12.

“We all bleed Matson, it’s a family. All our uncles, dads and grandads played, we’re just following them.”

Indeed they are although few would disagree that Sunday’s showpiece occasion is the biggest game in the club’s history.

“We’re going to enjoy the day but we’re going for the win, 100 per cent,” said Hennessy who confirmed that the club were travelling down to London on the day of the final. “We don’t want to go there and lose.”

Kenilworth will be no pushovers and Hennessy admits he knows little about the Midlands Two West (South) champions.

“I think they’ll be good,” he said. “We know it’s going to be tough but we’ll be ready.”

And should Matson defeat Kenilworth, there will be no more fitting person to lift the trophy than John Hennessy.

He is held in huge regard by everyone at Matson Rugby Club and secretary Colin Thornton said: “He’s a tremendous example, not just to people at the club but to rugby in general.

“He leads from the front but he’s very protective of the players. He’s grown up with them and he supports them, he’s a very good bloke.”

Matson: 15 Vince Lanciano; 14 Ryan Woodhouse, 13 Aaron Morefield, 12 Chris Hawkins, 11 Jevan Brown; 10 Findlay Young, 9 Farrell Gwilliam; 8 Tom Porter, 7 Liam Hazledon, 6 Joe Hart, 5 Ben Broady, 4 John Hennessy, 3 Jack Knight, 2 Tim Collier, 1 Shay O’Malley. Replacements: 16 Jerome Moore, 17 Harry Knight, 18 Joe Payne, 19 Joe Stokes, 20 Connor Gwilliam, 21 Mark Brown, 22 Matty Smith. Head coach: Leon Liggett; team manager: Paul Jones; physio: Joe Greedy. Travelling reserves: Liam Keating, Kian Bayliss, Harry Atkinson, Daniel Herd, Charlie Bishop.