SCHOOLBOYS have swapped the rough and tumble of rugby league for the dainty moves of dancing.

The 16 students have left behind the mud and scrums of the macho sport to take part in boys-only school dance classes.

The 15-year-olds at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley are leading the way in teaching fellow pupils that contemporary dance is an acceptable subject for boys.

They are all members of the school's rugby, football and boxing teams, and have been described as a "set of bruisers" by staff.

They will sit their dance exam in the summer.

Keely Slack, who introduced dance to the school six years ago, said: "The boys have been exposed to dance over the years and have really taken to it. They are a really sporty bunch of lads.

"They're hot-blooded males who have found something they are good at and I'm delighted that they decided to go on to take exams. It's brilliant. They have become role models for the younger boys and hopefully we will see bigger classes in the future.

"The girls think it's great that the lads are dancing. It gives them good co-ordination and puts them in good stead when they start clubbing. They have already had some performance experience and are coming on a treat."

Last month, the class joined 40 of the school's girl dance students at work with the top dance company Rambert, and watched the group perform their work at The Lowry.

A school spokesman said: "Dance has crept into the boys' schedule over the years and they have come to accept it as part of PE. We are chuffed to bits that they have taken to it, but we regard getting them to do it at all as a feat in itself.

"We are proud to be breaking down the macho image that Tyldesley man doesn't dance and is unromantic. We hope to make him more creative and make him feel more comfortable in expressing what he feels, and if that comes through performance art and drama, it can only be a good thing.

"We are doing something right. We have used 101 little strategies and one is showing lads that they can perform and not be regarded as sissy. We are hitting the macho culture beast on the head and making dance acceptable. And that can only be a good thing."