Copeland Athletic rugby league club was presented with its Clubmark certificate at half-time during the Great Britain v Australia Tri-Nations match on Saturay 30 October.

The amateur rugby league club from Whitehaven is the sixth Cumbrian rugby league side to achieve Clubmark status. Across the country, 49 clubs have the award and 159 are working towards it.

Sport England Clubmark sets generic criteria for National Governing Bodies of sport to accredit their clubs through having the right procedures, policies, action plans and coaches with relevant qualifications and become recognised as a quality club.

Clubmark brings benefits such as promoting clubs within their communities, increased participation levels, developing coaches and volunteers at clubs, raising standards and receiving priority status with funding applications.