RUGBY: Lowestoft & Yarmouth RFC has won an RFU President’s XV Award, supported by QBE, the specialist in business insurance.

The club was presented with the Seal of Approval Club of the Year award in celebration of its initiatives to encourage young people to become involved in the club and the game of rugby.

The club has established a range of programmes to both assist existing club members and also promote new members.

These include a mini-bus collection service for young people in Great Yarmouth, fee support for players to go towards coaching courses and an equipment exchange programme.

Now in its fifth year, the RFU President’s XV Awards seek to identify and reward initiatives that promote the development of rugby at a grassroots level. This year the RFU received 274 entries for the competition’s 15 different categories.

Lowestoft & Yarmouth RFC was awarded with a cheque for �500 and a special trophy by Willie Waldash, RFU vice-president.

The President’s XV judging panel comprised of RFU president Richard Appleby, immediate past president John Owen, vice-presidents Willie Wildash and Paul Murphy, RFUW president Gill Burns, Jason Leonard, Rugby World editor Paul Morgan and Danny Grainger representing QBE.

Jerry Stone, for Lowestoft & Yarmouth RFC, said: “It’s a great honour for us to be awarded with the Seal of Approval Club of the Year trophy. It’s testament to the time and effort that every member devotes to the club that we have won, and we look forward to using the prize money to take the club from strength to strength.”

Richard Appleby, RFU president added: “I’m delighted that the RFU President’s XV Awards, supported by QBE, has uncovered and honoured clubs who are doing such good work.

“There is an army of volunteers across the country which continues to grow the rugby family by providing the opportunity for more people to access the sport.

“It is gratifying to reward clubs such as Lowestoft and Yarmouth RFC and we hope that they will set a good example for many other clubs.”

Pat Wood, general manager for Midlands and South, QBE European Operations, commented: “We are delighted to be able to present Lowestoft & Yarmouth RFC with the Seal of Approval Club of the Year award. They thoroughly deserve this accolade and we hope they continue with their great work, both within the club and in the surrounding community.”

For further details on the RFU President’s XV scheme visit www.rfu.com/presidentsxv or www.qberugby.com