Junior Rugby Union on Teesside is now more child-friendly and well-organised than it has ever been - and that's official.

Thanks to a major nationwide initiative involving Sport England, the Rugby Football Union and member clubs, a ‘Seal of Approval' award was created three years ago that provides official recognition that the clubs are a ‘safe, effective, child-friendly environment'.

To achieve the award each club has to meet certain criteria, which include demonstrating that they have RFU qualified coaches, Codes of Conduct for players, coaches and spectators and a Child Welfare policy.

The most recent clubs to achieve Year Two Seal of Approval status are Middlesbrough, Acklam and Guisborough, while Seaton Carew have already achieved the Year Three benchmark having been one of the first clubs to become involved in the process.

"Every club on Teesside is now involved at one stage or another in the SoA process, with the three new Year Two award clubs joining Billingham at that level." says Dave Reed, Rugby Development Officer for Teesside.

"Every club has to put a great deal of time and effort into achieving this challenging award and it is testament to the excellent work being done by the club volunteers both on and off the field.

"The award is a benchmark of the infrastructure and organisational capabilities of the clubs and has taken two years to achieve.

"The process challenges clubs on a range of fronts and even in the best-run organisations always demands a good deal of hard work and re-organisation.

"The main thrust of the award is to ensure that children and parents can be reassured that they are not only spending their leisure time in a safe, properly-organised environment, but that they are also getting the best coaching and help in learning the game of rugby.

"Child welfare is a crucial area of activity for all sports clubs these days and the Rugby Football Union has always taken its responsibilities in this area very seriously. Clubs across the country are being positively encouraged to embark on the process and the Teesside trio are among those who have completed the first and second stages.

"I know from being closely involved and monitoring their systems at every stage how much detail and how much manpower is involved, so I can share their satisfaction as getting the award."