Wigton RUFC gain RFU Premier Award
There are many clubs in Cumbria who are making great strides at present and one of the clubs in this group are Wigton RUFC who have gone from strength to strength over the past few seasons.
Success in Rugby Clubs is often defined as a 1st Team competing in a high league, however another way of looking at this is looking at the infrastructure which underpins this figurehead. Wigton have taken the latter approach and have invested heavily in their volunteer workforce in terms of funding for coaching, refereeing and first aid awards and empowerment to run their respective sections of the club. All this work is overseen by the main club committee who have taken on a new demographic since adding some new and vibrant contributors to the cause.
The club have developed a solid internal structure supported by a strong volunteer base, keen and enthusiastic player base from youth all the way to senior rugby and a quality facility with all the requirements to provide a positive experience for all members.
Walk into the Wigton Facility in the modern day and you are greeted with a refurbished clubhouse both internally and externally and a brand new all weather pitch which has enticed the hockey players back from the nearby Dalston Facility. The recent developments have been through a joined up approach with help from the Cricket and Hockey Clubs giving the whole area a multi sport feel.
All these developments have not been done in isolation and the paperwork has been a key part of all the work. Wigton have been an RFU Seal of Approval Club for 3 years which demonstrated their commitment to child welfare by providing an accredited child friendly, safe environment for young people to participate in sport. Earlier in the year the club took this award one step further by gaining the much coveted RFU Whole Club Seal of Approval which reflects the time, resource and effort which has been invested in this recent swell of the club.
The original Seal of Approval was based around Clubs with Youth Section’s, however this ‘New’ Award recognises the work being done across the ‘Whole’ Club and ensures they have the correct policies, structures and procedures in place to maintain a healthy position in the sport.
The award was due to the excellent work of Alan Smith who has been a key figure in the recent development of the club and integral in the production of all Seal of Approval Policies and Procedures. The club are the first in Cumbria to receive the ‘New’ award and one of the few in the Country to be in possession of the plaque which is proudly being displayed at the club’s Lowmoor Road Facility.
RFU Rugby Development Officer Liam Nicholls was on hand to present the Award to Club Captain Matthew Atkinson. They were flanked by various club members from the Youth Section, Main Committee, Local Community Coach & Playing Members which reflects the ‘Whole’ Club Award.
Nicholls said “I am delighted to present the award to Wigton in recognition of their achievement s and development over the past few seasons, they are a great example to sports clubs across the county not just in rugby. It would be unfair to single out people as this truly has been a whole club effort but Nigel Beaty and Alan Smith in particular have been personal points of contact and have done an outstanding job getting the organisational structure in place and then backing it up with the relevant paperwork.”
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Liam Nicholls
Rugby Development Officer - Cumbria
RFU.com 
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