Other awards went to Paviors (Seal of Approval), West Suffolk College (More Than A Game), Derby (Girl Power), Ealing (More Referees), Kidderminster Carolians (More Coaches), Malton & Norton (More Volunteers), Cockermouth (Veterans), Barnsley (Better Facilities), Oakmedians (Technology), Ilkley (Fundraising) and Furness (Go Play Rugby).

The achievements of the winners and the 30 runners-up will be showcased in a President’s XV handbook so their best practice can be shared by the rest of the game.

The awards were made by a panel of judges consisting of RFU President Bob Taylor, Senior Vice President Brian Williams, Junior Vice President John Owen, immediate Past President Bob Rogers, RFUW President Gill Burns, England’s most-capped player Jason Leonard and Rugby World Editor Paul Morgan.

Taylor said: "The second year of the President’s XV awards produced a terrific response from clubs who are safeguarding the future of our great game.

"The imagination and application of tens of thousands of volunteers is making a real impact on rugby at every level and in every part of the country, bringing more people from every walk of life into the game.

"The judges had the very enjoyable task of reviewing an outstanding group of entries and the models of good practice we read about will be shared by the rest of the game.

"It’s a pleasure to be able to reward the best of the best and I’m sure many more clubs will be inspired by their examples."

The standards reached by the winners was praised by Owen, also the chairman of the RFU’s Community Rugby Standing Committee, who was delighted with recognition for the Cockermouth and Furness clubs from his home county of Cumbria.

Owen said: "As Chairman of Community Rugby it's wonderful to see these examples of what our clubs, schools and colleges do and these awards showed us some of the fantastic work that is taking place.

"Our game has recruited thousands of new players, coaches, referees and volunteers of all ages this season, while we have broken new ground with work in the inner cities and among new communities.

"It is important that we recognise and reward excellence and the President's XV helps us to acknowledge that work on a national scale."

The 13 winners will pick up £500 each and 18 runners-up will collect £100 each, totalling £10,500 of investment in the grassroots game.

PRESIDENT’S XV WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP

1 Seal of Approval Club of the Year: Paviors RFC. Runners-up: North Dorset, Peterborough
2 Club-School Links: Mitcham Bulls. Runners-up: Malton & Norton, Upper Eden
3 Schools Development: Stoke Newington School. Runners-up: Chellaston School, Goffs School
4 More Than A Game: West Suffolk College. Runners-up: Eastern Counties RFU, University of Nottingham
5 Girl Power: Derby. Runners-up: Minety, Sheffield Ladies
6 More Referees: Ealing. Runners-up: Lichfield, Newcastle University RRS
7 More Coaches: Kidderminster Carolians. Runners-up: Northumberland RFU, West Suffolk College
8 More Volunteers: Malton & Norton. Runners-up: Kidderminster, Millwall
9 Veterans: Cockermouth RFC. Runners-up: Derby, Shrewsbury
10 Social Inclusion: Hackney Bulls. Runners-up: Bolton, Camp Hill
11 Community: Stonehouse Sharks (Devonport HSOB). Runners-up: Grasshoppers, Jersey
12 Better Facilities: Barnsley. Runners-up: Hullensians, Thorney
13 Technology: Oakmeadians. Runners-up: Harlow, Royston
14 Fundraising: Ilkley. Runners-up: Lymm, The Tor
15 Go Play Rugby: Furness. Runners-up: Haringey, Kesteven

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