For the second year running, the mighty All Blacks have been training in secret at White City’s Burlington Danes Academy.

It has emerged that the 2011 Rugby World Cup winners spent two days on site preparing for their thrilling autumn international against England earlier this month, which they won by 24-21. From the moment they arrived, the visitors clearly meant business, closing off the school’s all-weather sports pitch to onlookers and refusing any photographs. The coaches even cleaned the sports hall whiteboard after discussing tactics.

They did, however, present the school with a shirt signed by the entire squad.

Michael Ribton, principal at the high-achieving Ark academy, said: "It was a delight to once again welcome one of the best rugby teams of recent years to our school. They kept themselves to themselves but were very kind in giving us a signed shirt. We are pleased that they asked to come back. It just goes to show the quality of the facilities that we have here at the academy."