THORNBURY RFC have been rewarded for their efforts off the pitch having been recognised by the sport’s governing body in England, the Rugby Football Union.

Thornbury have received an accreditation which recognises their strong administrative policies to uphold the principles of the game and the development of the sport within the local community.

And it also recognises the link the club have made between the junior sections and the senior level in developing players.

It was a proud moment last weekend when Thornbury chairman Michael Tinney and junior section chairman Leigh Payne were presented with the accreditation from Gloucestershire Rugby Football Unioin president Keith Gee.

Tinney said: “The accreditation is about clubs writing their bit of process management and how they want to organise the club.

“With this, the RFU will look more favourably on clubs who have self-assessed themselves and have taken a detailed approach of how they are working as a club within their own community.”

Tinney has taken the best part of three years to get the various parties at Thornbury RFC together and go through the short document containing through and searching questions about the club.

“We don’t have a large club and we run only one senior side but we have guys who want to formalise another team. We have a large junior section so this accreditation effects them. They get their own accreditation certificate as a junior section which links with the seniors.”

Tinney added: “We are proud of this. They could have sent this in the post but when the president of the GRFU comes down and sees you are at the top end of what rugby are trying to achieve, it’s recognition that the RFU are pleased with us.”