RUGBY CLUBS in England are embracing the need to develop across the board and 14 have now achieved Whole Club Seal of Approval. And eight of them had their awards presented to them at the Investec Challenge Series, pitch side at Twickenham by the RFU president Mr John Owen.

Ashby (Leicestershire), Windsor (Berkshire), Grasshoppers (Middlesex), Sidcup (Kent), North Dorset (Dorset & Wilts), Knutsford (Cheshire), Fylde (Lancashire) & Ilkley (Yorkshire) all attended one of the three matches to receive their certificates in front of a packed house at the home of England Rugby.

Introduced to by the Rugby Football Union in 2009 to build on the existing Mini and Youth Seal of Approval (Clubmark) which recognised quality provision of youth rugby, Whole Club accreditation requires evidence of good practice in other areas. These include club management, player development and recruitment, child protection, sports equity, coaching and refereeing, as well as the recruitment and management of volunteers.

With another 112 clubs predicted to be working towards Whole Club Seal of Approval in 2010 the future for club development is bright.

For more information, go to the RFU Seal of Approval webpage.