RFU Club Accreditation
The RFU Club Accreditation provides a framework for a club to show what it is doing, how it does it, and where it can improve.
The RFU hopes that clubs will be both challenged by the process and enjoy it.
It will allow clubs to exhibit all that is good about rugby in their adult sections, mini and youth, women and girls and touch rugby, while demonstrating that this is all achieved in a friendly, welcoming environment.
Key Drivers
The Club Accreditation scheme is based upon the six key drivers identified as crucial to a strong club:
- Retaining & Developing Players
- Recruiting New Players
- Recruiting & Retaining High Quality Coaches, Volunteers & Referees
- Effective & Efficient Facilities
- Effective & Efficient Management and Governance
- Integration with the Local Community
Each of these key drivers, together with the Core Values of the game, is represented within the Club Accreditation scheme and together they represent the component parts of a strong, sustainable club.
The scheme is straightforward and designed to both recognise and assist a club to continually improve, while demonstrating a real commitment to providing all that’s best in rugby union.
Club Accreditation
Club Accreditation will bring many advantages for your club, including the Sport England Clubmark for your mini and youth section.
It will give your club credibility with local authorities and educational establishments and confer the status of the RFU brand to attract potential sponsors.
To register your interest in the Club Accreditation scheme please contact our RDO.
Self Review
Your club will be required to undertake a simple self review of activities. This can be done before you meet with the RDO or you can do this together.
Since this is your accreditation, the RDO will simply “coach” you through the session, asking relevant questions and details to strengthen your review.
Additional Accreditation
The self review process can be completed by any club regardless of size or whether it caters for minis and juniors, women and girls.
If, however, your club does have a mini and junior section there are additional criteria which need to be addressed alongside the main criteria, mostly addressing safeguarding.
And if you have women and girls playing and training there are other specific criteria to be looked at. Therefore it will make sense to address all three sets of criteria together if appropriate. Your club will be recognised for its work with each or all of the three sections.
A Way of Life
Clubs will be expected to undertake an annual self review as part of the accreditation process with a more formal review with the RDO every two years.
This process will form part of the club’s annual development planning process.
