Hampshire rugby development officer Jamie Sanders presented the Seal of Approval certificate to the New Forest club's new president John Mouland, and new chairman, Ian Brown.

The Whole Club accreditation requires evidence of good practice in areas including club management, player development and recruitment, child protection, sports equity, coaching and refereeing, as well as the recruitment and management of volunteers. It was introduced by the RFU in 2009 to build on the existing Mini & Youth Seal of Approval which recognised quality provision of youth rugby.

Ian Brown, the Fordingbridge team manager, who is masterminding a three-year Club Development Plan, said: "The Seal of Approval shows we are equal to the high standards demanded by the RFU.

"It is an endorsement of all our best practices and shows that Fordingbridge RFC has an appeal to young and old alike. The benefits should be enormous.

"For example the club will now be in a bona fide position to apply to the RFU for help with funding and this will be of immense help as we seek to improve our playing facilities and develop the club as a whole. We have great enthusiasm to move forward while still retaining the homely and friendly nature of the club."

Dave Marsden, Hampshire's Community Rugby Chairman, was full of praise for the effort Fordingbridge had put in.  "This is excellent news for Fordingbridge Rugby Club and for Hampshire," he said.

"They have worked very hard to achieve this award and fully deserve the accolade.  They have fully supported the development plan put in place and I am very pleased."

The links with the community have also been strengthened with the appointment of a Club Volunteer Coordinator, Brian Pugh, who will be casting the net far and wide for volunteers.

Fordingbridge's late President Tony O'Connell had been involved in the inauguration of the Seal of Approval project before his untimely death last February, and it is fitting that the award comes just a week after the launch of the "Tony O'Connell Founders Fund" to develop investment in the club.

NB Donations for the Tony O'Connell Founders Fund may be sent, marked "Private and Confidential", to Mr Tony Stone, Treasurer, Fordingbridge RFC, c/o Nat-West Bank, 27 Market Place, Romsey, Hants, SO51 8ZH