A TEENAGER has had the year of his life travelling around the world to learn national sports before trying to beat the locals at their own game.
Sports-mad Franc Elmes Wright, from Coggeshall, starred in CBBC series A Week To Beat The World.
Franc, 14, was in a team of three boys who jetted off to learn new sports with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual, who wowed fans of top TV show Strictly Come Dancing.
They were taught Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira in Brazil, sumo wrestling in Japan and an ancient Mayan ballgame called pitz in Guatamala.
Franc’s mum Dervorgilla said: “They wanted very competitive children willing to take on anything.
“They took a crew to Brazil and spent four days training in capoeira which is a martial art and a local sport there.
“They went to a favela shanty town and met different people.
“Then on the fifth day they competed in the sport they have learned against the locals.”
Franc loves playing football, cricket and rugby.
His mum said: “He is captain of the school rugby team and his teacher is a member of Northampton Saints where Franc trains.
“The BBC contacted professional sports clubs around the country and Franc was put forward.
“He had a Skype interview and was shortlisted and then got the part.
“He loved it and told us what a laugh he had.
“He hung out with the local boys and is now on Instagram with the Japanese.
“It was an incredible experience for him to go to parts of the world you wouldn’t normally get to as a tourist.
“It was a really educational trip.
“He obviously got a lot out of it, but when he got back he just went out and played with his friends.”
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