LEIGH Miners Rangers has become the first Rugby League club in the Wigan and Leigh Service Area to achieve the Sport England Rugby League specific Clubmark award.

Sport England Clubmark sets generic criteria for national governing bodies of sport to accredit their clubs against in order to create safe, effective, and child friendly environments.

The RFL and BARLA have in turn been responsible for developing and setting sports specific standards and accrediting clubs against the national framework. The County Sports Partnerships, and in this instance Greater Sport will support the scheme at local level.

Clubmark will bring benefits such as promoting clubs within their communities, increased participation levels, developing coaches and volunteers at clubs, and raising standards.

Chris Thair, North West Regional Development Manager said: "The ongoing roll out of the Sport England RL Clubmark standard throughout the Rugby League Community will bring many benefits, including more sustainable opportunity for all to participate and progress in all sectors of our sport.

"By achieving Clubmark the club is now 'rubber stamped' as being quality assured throughout. Parents, carers and teachers will be happy to direct their kids to Leigh Miners Rangers knowing they will be in a safe environment, coached by qualified and quality assured coaches, have some fun and of course enjoy all the benefits that playing rugby league brings.

"LMR committee members will also like the fact that Clubmark clubs are prioritised in funding applications. More people playing and more money directed to rugby league means everybody is a winner.

"I know LMR Chairman Trevor Barton and in particular junior coach Mark Eccleston, along with other members of the club have worked extremely hard on achieving the minimum standards of Clubmark and this should be rewarded. This is a great achievement for one of the leading amateur clubs in the country; LMR is a fantastic advert for our great sport, well done to all involved."

Steve Fairhurst, RFL Active Sports National Development Manager added: "This success signals not only a significant achievement by the Leigh Miners Rangers club, but the strengthening of local grassroots rugby league."

The award was made to Leigh Miners at Hilton Park during the half time interval of the Centurions v Keighley game last weekend.