Ulster Rugby vs Cardiff Blues

BALLYCLARE RFC SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CLUB EXCELLENCE ACCREDITATION SUBMISSION Ballyclare RFC has received good news from the IRFU that their bid to achieve the Club Excellence Accreditation has been successful.

CLUB EXCELLENCE ACCREDITATION

staff and dedicated volunteers across the whole of the club. “It also follows another great success earlier in the year when the club won Junior Club of the Year at Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Sports Awards.” commented, “This is a great achievement for the club and the dedicated team of volunteers that have worked on this scheme. The Club Excellence Award is a very worthwhile process for clubs to progress through, providing them with a best practice benchmark to strive towards, in terms of sustainable on and off field management and operations.” Ballyclare RFC field four adult teams, alongside strong age grade sections and a developing women’s section. Last season a special needs rugby team, the ‘Clare Hares’, was also established at the club. Ballyclare RFC welcomes new players to The Cloughan, Doagh Road, Ballyclare. For more information on the club visit www.ballyclarerfc.co.uk. IRFU (Ulster Branch) Club & Community Development Officer, David Johnston,

The Club Excellence Accreditation scheme has been developed by the IRFU to celebrate and promote best practice in on and off pitch management of a rugby club. To achieve the IRFU Club Excellence Award, a club must demonstrate that it has established above average standards in the areas of club operation: » Rugby Development » Club Management » Child Protection » Volunteer Management » Community Engagement » Health & Safety Ballyclare RFC, over the past number of months, has been working hard on developing the club’s infrastructure and building their evidence base to satisfy the Club Excellence criteria. Upon completion of a detailed portfolio, site visit and assessment by the IRFU (Ulster Branch) and the IRFU, the club are delighted to learn of their success. Ballyclare RFC Chairman Peter Kirk said, “Achieving the IRFU Club Excellence Award is the culmination of a lot of hard work by our coaching

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