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Wetherby RUFC Juniors ride high on
achieving RFU recognition and their Under 17s create history.
 Young Rugby Union players in the
Wetherby area are riding high after their local club was recognised
for its excellence.
Wetherby
RUFC Juniors has joined the elite of amateur clubs by earning a
coveted RFU Seal of Approval.
RFU Seal of Approval status is
only given to clubs whose junior sections meet stringent tests on
the quality of their coaching staff, the safety of their environment
for children and their commitment to youngsters of all abilities and
ages.
The RFU introduced
the Active Sports Seal of Approval accreditation programme as a
method of examining, maintaining and improving the provision of
rugby in the youth section of an Active Sports rugby club. Building
upon current good practice, the accreditation aims to recognise the
effort and achievement of those clubs that reach, maintain and
improve on the required standard of a club committed to the Active
Sports programme
Now county officials are hoping
other clubs will follow Wetherby RUFC. The Development Plan compiled
by chairman Phil Walker sets out where, with the support of both
Junior and Senior Clubs, what the club wants to achieve in five
years time.
 Being awarded RFU Seal of
Approval is a huge achievement for the 26-year-old junior club which
has more than doubled its size in less than five years.
These days Wetherby Juniors have
around 230 regular young players ranging from u7 to a Colts/Development side with a view to feeding players into the Senior
game.
Said Mr Walker: “We’ve got a
great bunch of players and volunteers who are all mad about rugby.
We have had a fantastic season and getting the RFU Seal of Approval
is the icing on the cake. In the 2008-2009 season we’ll be able to run eleven
junior teams and build further on our current successes”.
“Getting the RFU Seal of Approval
has taken a lot of hard work from our volunteer coaches who turn out
week in week out in all weathers. But it’s a great thing as it opens
up a lot more opportunities for our young players. It means that
parents know their children are in safe hands and get the best
possible grounding in rugby skills.”
Gordon Brown, Yorkshire
President, who presented the award to Wetherby said; “This is the
accolade for all junior rugby clubs and shows that their practice is
the best both on and off the pitch.”
As
the Junior Section drew near to the end of another successful
season (2007-8) it looked to their u17s to continue the success
of the club at the National Bowl Semi Final
against Melton Mowbray at Macclesfield Rugby Club.
After a very hard fought game against Sheffield in the Northern Final the
Wetherby lads were expecting another very tight game against their
Midlands opponents. Sadly, it was not to be Wetherby's day as Melton
Mowbray came out as winners and progressed to the National Final
which were held at the Premiership Ground of Worcester Warriors on the 4th
May.
This is the first time Wetherby have achieved the honour of representing
the North of England in such a prestigious competition and it shows
the development that has taken place over the last few years at the
club. Team Captain Robert Adair said “That all the players are
extremely proud of what has been achieved for the Club and the Local
Area. They are really looking forward to the semi final on Sunday.
We have some key players coming back from injury and this will help
to strengthen the squad. We have 4 Under 16’s players in the squad
and these guys have been really impressive in the matches they have
played and have given us a lot of different options that earlier in
the session we did not have. Against Sheffield the support we had
gave us a real lift and made us play a lot better than we have been.
It would be really nice to have that level of support again at
Macclesfield against Melton Mowbray as I am sure they will be
difficult opponents to beat. I would also like to thank everyone
that has sent their best wishes to the team, especially the Under 17
teams at Thorne and Ripon.”
This achievement marks the hard work and commitment of everyone at the
Wetherby Club and shows the strength that this Junior Section is now
forging in the county.
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