Windsor setting standard for rugby clubs around England

Windsor RFC are setting the standard for rugby clubs up and down the country by becoming the first club in England to achieve the RFU's Whole Club Seal of Approval.

The award recognises the effort and achievement of volunteers in reaching the required standard of a club committed to the development of rugby union.

Introduced in 2009, the accreditation is a method of ensuring high quality provision of rugby in clubs. It builds on the established procedures of Mini and Youth Seal of Approval to retain young players when they move from youth into adult rugby and to ensure the long term sustainability of rugby clubs.

Chairman Ian Potter, who is part of a club that boasts over 1,500 members, 400 youth players and 85 qualified coaches, said: "Windsor was one of the first clubs in Berkshire to get the RFU Seal of Approval in 2004 for youth rugby. This has proved very worthwhile and has helped our youth section to grow along structured lines.

"Since then, all sections of the club have experienced further growth and we need to manage this properly; the Whole Club Seal of Approval is an ideal format and we threw all our energies into achieving it. It means that, in the future, we can plan ahead and ensure that our facilities and our organisational structure expand accordingly along clearly defined lines."

Andy Lees, the RFU's national club development manager, said: "Congratulations to Windsor RFC on being the first club to become Whole Club Seal of Approval accredited. I'm sure that they will see even greater benefits as the whole club moves forward together, which in turn will help even more players, coaches, referees and volunteers move from the mini and youth section into their adult teams".

Windsor are due at Twickenham tomorrow (Wednesday) to officially recieve the award from RFU president Brian Williams.