Former England rugby star Bill Beaumont and newly-elected MP for Twickenham Dr Tania Mathias joined forces on Tuesday evening to open a new heavyweights room at Teddington’s Lensbury Club.

The new gym has been built as part of the leisure club’s preparation for its role as team base for the Rugby World Cup, for which it will host teams from New Zealand and South Africa.

Dr Mathias, whose grandfather was a rugby heavyweight for Glamorgan, later tweeted: “Rugby Heroes in Teddington”, with a photo of the event.

Also at the launch was former England captain Rob Andrew and England Sevens coach Simon Amor.