Two rugby mad professionals were given the treat of a lifetime as they were shown around Twickenham by World Cup winner Will Greenwood after making the final of the MasterCard Be Number 23 competition.

Sales and marketing worker Garrett Martens, of Point Pleasant, Wandsworth, and director Simon Young, 36, of Links Road, Tooting, were among 16 finalists, who got an inside look around the home of rugby ahead of world champions South Africa’s clash with the Barbarians in the MasterCard Trophy on December 4.

Martens, 49, and Young, 36, had to pitch themselves to a panel of judges including former Baa-Baa Greenwood to prove why he deserved a spot in the Barbarians squad – living, eating and training with the likes of international stars such as Aussie duo Matt Giteau and James O’Connor.

And despite just missing out on the final prize Martens admitted the day would live long in his memory.

“Although I didn’t win the whole experience has been fantastic and the opportunity to do something like this which I have never done before has been amazing,” he said.

“The first time I ever came to Twickenham was for the New Zealand Test and then just two days later I am being shown around by Will Greenwood – it has been fantastic.”

Young added: “The tour by Will Greenwood was very good and very informative and to see Twickenham from the ground up was a new experience for me as I am normally in the stands looking down.

“Will is a World Cup winner and loves his rugby so he has been telling us lots of stories so there is no one better to show you around Twickenham.”

Although the pair won’t be forming part of the Barbarians squad they did receive a signed Baa-Baas shirt from Greenwood, tickets to the match and invitation to a training session.

And former British & Irish Lion Greenwood insisted that while Martens missed out the top prize, the competition was a very close run thing.

“The competition was so strong and absolutely all of the finalists had something to offer as a devotee to the game of rugby,” he said.

“We managed to whittle it down to about four or five but I know they would have all fitted in brilliantly with the Barbarians and it is just a shame we could only pick one.”

* Want to know what it’s like to be a BaaBaa?! Go to www.benumber23.co.uk/priceless for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and use your MasterCard to get 20% off match tickets to the MasterCard Trophy, Barbarians v South Africa, 4th December at Twickenham