BURNLEY Rugby Club knew exactly who to invite to celebrate earning the highly coveted RFU Accreditation status – former player and current Mayor, Councillor Charles Bullas.

The Mayor, or Charlie as he was known during his players days at the Holden Road club, was guest of honour to mark the special occasion.

The award underlines the hard work the club is doing to promote the game within the community and getting more youngsters involved in rugby Burnley is one of 85 clubs across the country – including Clitheroe RUFC – that have obtained the accolade.

The club has made giant strides to help boost its junior section – and it has been helped as player/coach Simon Finnan has been appointed Community Rugby Coach for the area.

Burnley celebrated both achievements with a special lunch. Among the guests were the Mayor of Burnley and his wife Irene, Malcolm Worsley, president of the Lancashire County RFU, Bob Grant, one of Lancashire’s two representatives on the RFU Council and Helen Tyson from Burnley Schools Sport Partnership.

“This is great news for the club,” said Finnan who has been busy working in junior and secondary schools across the borough.

“One of the stipulations of the Accreditation is the ability to retain, recruit and develop players and that is what I have been doing in schools in the area.

“Peter Hughes and Robin Reid worked very hard to help us achieve the award and we are all very grateful.”

Finnan has been holding coaching sessions in schools and running tag rugby tournaments.

The aim is to encourage them to take up the game and Burnley is now aiming to have teams competing from under sevens to under 19s. “The response has been superb,” added Finnan. “We had half a dozen pupils from Shuttleworth College come down to the club after I worked with them prior to competing in an emerging schools rugby festival in Manchester.

“I’m hoping to get a similar response from other schools.”

Finnan’s post has been funded by the club, the RFU’s Innovative Fund, Burnley Schools Sport Partnership and the Lancashire County RFU’s Youth Trust.

Meanwhile, Burnley is hoping to entice former members back to the club when they play in a special fixture against Blackburn on Monday.

The under 24s match is aimed at those former players who are returning to the area from their studies or work over the Easter period.

It is a joint RFU, Lancashire Development Centre and Burnley initiative to reconnect players with their local rugby club. A similar match due to be played over the Christmas period was cancelled due to the weather.

The match will be held at Blackburn RUFC on Easter Monday (ko 2pm) and there will be food and drink available in the club house after.

Any players wishing to be involved, email Simon Finnan at caldervale78@hotmail.co.uk