WALES Rugby League have gained a prestigious national sports accreditation in child protection.
The WRL have been awarded the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) Level Two standard for safeguarding and protecting children.
The accreditation has taken a lot of work to achieve, with Sport Wales, the nation’s sports council, and Collette Eden, from the sport’s British governing body, the Rugby Football League, providing help and guidance towards the WRL’s success.
And now they are working towards achieving the CPSU’s Level Three accreditation.
WRL Board Member Martin Roddy said “This is an excellent achievement for Wales Rugby League and ensures our sport is a safe, exciting, family friendly sport for all ages.
“Mark Jones, the WRL’s National Development Manager, has developed safeguarding to an exemplary level and is to be congratulated on achieving the Level Two Safeguarding Standard.”
The accreditation is a milestone for Wales Rugby League as the CPSU is part of a nationwide partnership between all British sports councils and the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The Unit was founded in 2001 to work with UK sports councils, national governing bodies, such as the Wales Rugby League, and county sports partnerships with the aim of minimising the risk of child abuse during sports activities. It followed a series of high profile cases of abuse of young athletes by those people in positions of trust in sport.
Roddy added: “The WRL would like to place on record its thanks to all those involved in the game who are doing so much to ensure that children and young people in Rugby League can take part in an enjoyable and safe environment.
“However we all know there is a huge amount to be done in order to ensure that the Safeguarding Policy is fully embedded throughout the game and look forward to working to achieve the Level Three standard.”