HTPR found themselves in the company of cricket legend Darren Gough and rugby hero Austin Healey when the stars officially opened a new £15 million sports store in Wednesbury.

After being appointed by Decathlon to manage the publicity and launch of the new store, HTPR, which has worked with a number of high profile names including Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Thierry Henry, set about signing up the England greats.

To mark the opening in true sporting style, the pair competed in a 10-event Decathlon challenge, testing their skills alongside team-mates made up of lucky store customers.

Bron Eames, managing director of HTPR, said: “The opening was a huge success with hundreds of people turning up to get pictures and autographs from their idols. Darren and Austin were the perfect fit for Decathlon and definitely lived up to their reputations as true sporting heroes.”

Prior to the opening, HTPR implemented a regional media relations campaign designed to raise awareness of the new store, as well as giving members of the public the chance to win a place on one of the Decathlon challenge teams.

The Decathlon store boasts one of the largest selections of sporting goods under one roof in the whole of the UK, with more than 70 different sports catered for and expert staff on hand to advise customers on their purchases.

The opening marked the culmination of a week that saw other sporting greats including Gary Newbon, Cyrille Regis and Tony Daley, showing their support for the store.