Skipton have been awarded the prestigious RFU Club Accreditation status, an accolade which is shared by all the volunteers at Sandylands who have been responsible for the club achieving the demanding quality benchmarks put in place by the sport’s governing body.

The club is now recognised for its successes in creating a more enjoyable and safer place to play the sport, following on as it does from the junior & mini and whole club Seal of Approval awards which involved the first detailed examinations of the complete infrastructure of a club.

Former player and rugby development officer for West Yorkshire, Hamish Pratt, presented the certificate to the club president Mel Mason and said: “Even for a long-established and well-respected club like Skipton, attaining the RFU accreditation standards is a tremendous achievement and reflects great credit on all the volunteers at the club.

“When parents take their youngsters to Skipton they know that they are in safe hands and being well looked after within a properly organised and monitored structure.”

The Age Grade Section of the club was also reviewed by the RFU and demonstrated that it met the standards demanded and is committed to providing a safe, fun and enjoyable rugby union playing environment for young people.

The Rugby Football Union Club Accreditation scheme aims to help all rugby clubs in England become stronger, more effective, more efficient and more enjoyable places to play rugby. Accreditation earns advantages like the Sport England Clubmark recognising the excellence of the vibrant mini and youth section, together with increased status and credibility which the award generates with local authorities, educational establishments and potential sponsors.