Billericay Rugby Club is hoping gaining the RFU thumbs-up for its youth work will stand the club in good stead for the future.

The club has spent most of this year ensuring it reaches the criteria for the Rugby Football Union’s mini and youth seal of approval.

On Sunday, the Essex RFU president Chris Dwyer presented Billericay president Keith Young with the club’s certificate.

Dwyer praised the work of Billericay’s Steve Winford, Chris Goldsmith, Andy Collings, Andy Goldsmith, Laura Parker, Anthony Harvey and Glenn Branch in preparing the successful bid.

“Getting the seal of approval is very important to the club,” said Andy Collings, who helps run the junior section at the Stock Road club.

“It is a reassurance for parents that everything we do is in accordance with the best practices of the RFU.

“It’s the way forward for the club. It should attract more youngsters to the club and open a lot of doors for us.

“For example, Sports Match will not even deal with you if you do not get these marks of approval.”

The presentation of the certificate took place after the players’ registration session on Sunday and the six to seven months the club spent working to get the seal of approval already appears to be paying dividends.

When the mini section was set up a couple of years ago, there were only a handful of players.

That had increased to 20 last season, but Sunday saw 50 players aged between five and nine sign up for Billericay to play tag rugby.

“I’m 38 and and I’m the result of the second from last youth team we had,” added Collings.

“The last youth team are in their mid-twenties now, so the new mini section is important for the future of the club. There’s still a long way to go to see them in the first team, but the only way to do it is from the ground up.”

Children interested in playing non-contact tag rugby at Billericay’s Willowbrook Sports Club home can contact Andy Collings on 07970 194995 or at andycollings999@hotmail.com. The sessions take place at 9am on Saturdays.