Printerland have awarded Eccles RFC 30 complimentary tickets to the Sale Sharks versus Northampton Saints game for their hard work running the Duke of Edinburgh award. They are the only Rugby club in Britain to have achieved this. This was part of the Printerland & Lexmark Promotes Rugby Programme.

In October 2009, Christopher Tickle, a stalwart of Eccles RFC passed away under tragic circumstances. However, it came to light that he had done all the necessary hard work to complete his Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Scheme Gold, which was posthumously awarded to him the following Year.

With the arrival of some new volunteers at the club it was decided to look at providing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through Eccles RFC, as an integral part of the clubs ethos, and as a lasting memorial to Christopher. With the assistance of Oakwood High School, a local licence holder and award provider, Eccles RF U15s lads commenced their DofE Bronze on 1^st August 2010.

The initial idea was to see how the u15s got on with Bronze, then review where the club would take the Award in the future. The lads had to cover 4 skill sets to obtain their award; Physical, Volunteering, Skills and an Expedition. The lads became involved with local sports teams, learnt music instruments, took part in drama, undertook 1^st aid courses as well as their Rugby Ready Referees course .They also had to plan and complete an Expedition and spent several days having training walks and practice camps before embarking on two 8 mile walks and an overnight camp in Rivington Pike – where they all had to be self sufficient.The lads’ fantastic commitment will see them achieve a 90% pass rate (nationally the achievement rate is 30%).

Eccles RFC and Oakwood High School have been very supportive of everyone that has become involved, funding the training courses such as the British Expedition Leaders Award, which allows the lads to do their expeditions. The club also funded and provided the venue for the Rugby Ready Referees course.

What does the future hold? The lads are eagerly planning their DofE Silver programme, and the girls team are set to commence their DofE Bronze. Planning is underway at Eccles RUFC, looking at the long term funding for the DofE.The ultimate aim is to be an open award centre, accepting any young person in the Eccles RFC area to participate.

To find out more on Printerland’s Promote Rugby Programme please contact Lisa Taylor by email to L.Taylor@Printerland.co.uk