Bangor Rugby Football Club is delighted to have achieved Clubmark NI accreditation for a sports club accommodating junior (mini rugby, youth rugby and ladies rugby) and adult (men’s and ladies) members. Clubmark NI is Northern Ireland’s quality standard for sports clubs. Sport NI works with a range of Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities to deliver this sports club accreditation programme. It aims to identify, develop, accredit and recognise high quality sports clubs and the contribution that they make to the development of sport in Northern Ireland.

Bangor Rugby Football Club now joins a select group of approximately 90 clubs across Northern Ireland who have achieved this through the various Clubmark NI endorsed club development and accreditation schemes. Although seven other rugby clubs in Ulster hold the IRFU Club Excellence Award which covers all of the Clubmark NI criteria, Bangor is the first to have achieved this accreditation through the recently launched Clubmark NI Online system.

Clubmark NI now involves registering online and uploading 35 sets of documented evidence to satisfy the minimum yet demanding operating standards in five key areas, namely Effective Club Management; Community Engagement; Quality Coaching and Competition; Creating a Safe Environment and Safeguarding members. Verification of the evidence, including a club visit, was rigorously carried out by Matthew Holmes and his team at the Ulster Branch (IRFU) to ensure compliance with the core Clubmark NI criteria and rugby specific criteria.

Bangor RFC had previously attained the trailblazing Ulster Branch Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards as the quality standards for rugby in the late 00’s which later evolved into the IRFU Club Excellence Scheme. The current Clubmark NI accreditation requires annual online health checks to maintain accreditation and is valid for a period of three years, beyond which full re-accreditation is required to maintain the Clubmark NI standard.

An accredited club is recognised as a safe, considerate and quality environment for participants of all ages to enjoy sport and stay involved throughout their lives. Bangor Rugby Football Club is an ambitious, family friendly sports club which continues to provide such opportunities for everyone in the Bangor community and beyond who has an interest in playing or participating in rugby at a level appropriate to their abilities and needs. At adult level, Bangor RFC 1st XV competes in Division 2C of the Ulster Bank (All-Ireland) League and the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership Division 2, while the 2nd XV and 3rd XV compete in Ulster Provincial Leagues 1 and 5 respectively. The club also has a thriving Mini Rugby section and a growing Youth and Ladies section.

As Bangor RFC looks forward to celebrating 50 years at Upritchard Park in the 2019-20 season, new members and volunteers are always welcome to participate and enjoy the Club’s facilities which are shared with Bangor Cricket Club under the management umbrella of Bangor Rugby Football and Cricket Club.

Photo from L to R, standing: Helen Acheson (BRFC Child Welfare Officer), Liam Foley (BRFC Mini Convenor), Norman Gault (BRF&CC Hon Sec and Ulster Branch Representative), Tony Heffernan (BRF&CC President), Jonny Watson (BRFC Chairman), Maggie Townsley (BRFC Child Welfare Officer), Davy Coey (BRFC Youth and Ladies Convenor) and seated are some of our Mini Rugby players