Ross Rugby Club has become the first rugby club in Herefordshire to receive official RFU accreditation and will be celebrating their success with a day of events on Sunday, at their Greytree ground.

The accreditation scheme is part of the RFU's commitment to strengthening clubs and growing the game in the communities around them. Unlike other accreditation schemes, this one provides a framework for a club to show what it is doing, how it does it, and where it can improve.

The club, founded 140 years ago in 1873, have invited Jesse Norman MP to unveil the accreditation plaque at 1pm. Before then the Juniors will train from 10am until 12pm in the last day of their season, and at 2pm seven teams are expected to compete in a Ladies' Touch Rugby Tournament. This is the Ross Ladies' round of the North Midlands Ladies' Touch League.

The club is encouraging the entire community to come along and enjoy the day and is also looking to recruit new players.

Ross Rugby Club's President, Brian Harris, said: "Really, it's about running the club properly – doing it the way Twickenham like it. I think the RFU are more likely to help a club that is accredited as they can see how you're doing things.

"It's something that other, bigger clubs in the area haven't got in place because perhaps they feel they don't need to run their club the way the RFU sets out, but we have even though we're smaller.

"It's an on going thing, about the set-up, achieving a certain standard of coaching, and meeting criteria."

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.