A RUGBY club is celebrating after being awarded an accreditation by the Rugby Football Union.

The accreditation means Northallerton Rugby Club, at Brompton Lodge in Northallerton Road, will be able to apply for funding from the RFU, and it is a testament to the hard work the committee put in over the last year to increase members.

Club president Peter Blythe said: “We are very proud to have this accreditation.

“The Yorkshire RFU president Paul Govier attended the club on Saturday (January 18) to present the award, ahead of a match between Northallerton and Aireborough first 15 teams.

“We have worked very hard in the last year to grow our numbers, and last year we launched some touch rugby events to try to encourage people who thought rugby might not be for them to come and have a go.

“Many of them enjoyed it so much they signed up to be full members and we have gone from barely two teams to three full senior teams.”

The event was sponsored by car dealership RMB Northallerton.