68 Sport WALES RUGBY LEAGUE has
achieved two major awards as they continue to build and improve the organisation. The national governing body has
been awarded the Level 3 Safeguarding Standard, as well as being awarded the highest grading in the Sport Wales Self Assurance process for the fourth year in a row. The Safeguarding Standard was
awarded jointly by Sport Wales and the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit. In gaining the Level 3 Standard, Wales Rugby League successfully presented to the panel and submitted evidence relating to 30 separate safeguarding criteria. National Development Manager
Idris Evans is delighted that the two organisations have rubber stamped the work undertaken over the last 12 months to improve safety within Rugby League in Wales. He said: “We have worked very
hard over the last 12 to 18 months to get where we are now - writing new and re- writing old policies, up-skilling staff and volunteers and sharing information with clubs so that children and young people can feel safe playing the sport of Rugby League in Wales. “We have had some great support
from our team of safeguarding volunteers across Wales in Martin Roddy, Mark Jones and Mark Parry, as well as the support from the Board through Chris Thair. “To date, we are one of only a handful
of sports in Wales to pass the Level 3 Standards and are ensuring we provide an environment where young players can feel safe, protected and listened to. It’s about having the right resources in place to make people feel safe, but also being able to have procedures and practices ready if things do go wrong. “We’d also like to thank the NSPCC
and Sport Wales for their support in gaining this standard.” Anne Tiivas, the director of the Child
Protection Sports Unit, said: “We would like to congratulate Wales Rugby League on achieving Level 3 of the Safeguarding Standards. We thank the organisation for your contribution to creating a safe environment for children and young people that works towards the framework for safeguarding and protecting children in and through sport in Wales.” The self-assurance process is
undertaken annually by all the main sport’s National Governing Bodies in the UK. Each NGB must upload evidence and explain how they meet 62 separate criteria on governance, financial management, human resources, policy, risk management and strategy. The results of which show the Sports Councils whether the NGB is fit for purpose and safe enough to receive lottery and public funding. For the last four years, Wales Rugby League has received the highest grading of green. Wales Rugby League CEO Chris
Thair said: “Receiving awards and recognition from three separate bodies
in the same month is testament to the fantastic work taking place within Wales. This journey is far from complete and there remains much work to be done but it does show we are on the right road. “The self-assurance grading just
reinforces our own beliefs. We have good governance, are led well, have small financial reserves alongside good financial management and a clear direction of travel. Most importantly, we have some good people involved who will ensure this will continue into the future. “The advanced safeguarding
standard from the NSPCC means Wales Rugby League cover the two main aspects of safeguarding in a good manner. We are proactive to prevent issues taking place in the first place; however, we will react in the most suitable way when required. The award shows rugby league in Wales is a good environment for children to be involved in. “We wish to dedicate the Level 3
safeguarding award to ex-WRL board member Martin Roddy, whose health is sadly suffering at the moment. Martin has been the long-time stalwart of safeguarding within our organisation and the main instigator in ensuring it is of the highest priority. We are extremely grateful. “Finally, to hear John Kear say
at a recent meeting and subsequently in a public interview with Sky Sports that Wales Rugby League is the best organisation he has been involved in
Welsh Champions will be made THE WELSH SENIOR
CHAMPIONSHIPS will take place on Saturday, January 28, at the National Indoor Athletics Centre (NIAC) in Cardiff. The prestige of being crowned
Welsh Champion will be felt by a number of Welsh athletes as they begin their journey towards the Commonwealth Games (CWG), Gold Coast 2018. The starting line up in the Senior
Men’s 60mH looks to be one of the highlights of the day, with several top athletes targeting the win. Cardiff’s David Omoregie (Benke
Blomkvist) will be looking for a flying start to his indoor season after a fantastic 2016, where he attained the Olympic qualifying time for the 110mH just outside of the qualification period. Omoregie will be up against his
training partner, Olympian and British Senior Indoor Champion Andrew Pozzi (Blomkvist) and David King (James Hillier), who won this event in a time of 7.68 last year. They will be joined by Commonwealth Games sixth place finisher Decathlete Ben Gregory (Aston Moore). Gregory will also be competing in the Pole Vault. 2014 CWG Silver Medallist
Sally Peake (Scott Simpson) starts her campaign towards another CWG medal in the Pole Vault. The qualifying ‘A’ standard of 4.25 is well within the
Tom Marshall: Looking to defend his 800m title
athletes’ reach with a PB of 4.42. Paralympic Gold Medallist Aled
Davies (Ryan Spencer-Jones) will be starting his indoor season, competing in the shot put after a 2016 full of titles. Davies recently tweeted: “10 Gold, one Silver and one Bronze. My first four year cycle as a senior athlete went alright - can’t wait to do it all again.” Swansea Harrier Caryl Granville
(Darrell Maynard) is competing in the Senior Women’s 60mH and 400m. Granville enjoyed a successful 2016 season, coming back from injury, in both the 100mH and 400mH. She also broke the Women’s All Comers record
in the 600m in a time of 1:31.86 in December. Welsh Champion Tom Marshall
(James Thie) is back to defend his title in the Senior 800m. Marshall narrowly missed out on the CWG qualification standard in 2014 on several occasions in the 1500m. He will be targeting the CWG standard of 3.38.50 this year. His PB currently sits at 3.39.41. Jonathan Hopkins (Ridley
Griffiths) is up in the Senior 1500m. Hopkins kick-started his indoor season with a PB of 8:12.09 in the 3000m to place third in Glasgow recently. It will be exciting to see how he performs in the run up to the Gold Coast.
THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 20 2017
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Major award for Wales Rugby League
speaks volumes for our culture and practices. “As he stated, we are not a cash
rich organisation and have much lower revenues than all the other nations and clubs John has coached in the past. These comments reflect how we always try to do things in the right way with good values and practice, are supportive as a board and is a wonderful reflection upon the staff and
players involved in the national team. They are a special bunch of people who will rightly go into 2017 Rugby League World Cup with a great deal of pride.” Wales Rugby League still have
some remaining shirt sponsors for the World Cup and if by reading this, your business would like to hear more, then email Chris Thair on
chris.thair@
walesrugbyleague.co.uk.
Wales Six Nations squad named WALES have named a 36-man
squad, featuring seven uncapped players, led by captain Alun Wyn Jones, for the forthcoming 2017 RBS Six Nations. Scarlets’ Steffan Evans is one of
five uncapped players in the squad for the first time alongside Olly Cracknell (Ospreys), Thomas Young (Wasps), Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers) and Ashton Hewitt (Newport Gwent Dragons). Fellow uncapped duo Rory
Thornton and Aled Davies, who have both previously been part of the national set-up, are once again included. Haverfordwest-born Rob Evans,
who missed the autumn campaign due to injury, returns to the squad having previously been called up for the 2016 tournament. Evans features alongside fellow
forwards Nicky Smith, Scott Andrews, Rhodri Jones, Tomas Francis and Samson Lee. Kristian Dacey, Ken Owens and Scott Baldwin are the three hookers named. Jones, who became Wales’ 127th
captain when he first took on the duties back in 2009 (against Italy in Rome, Wales’ first opponents in this year’s competition) and has led Wales on a total of five previous occasions, is joined by Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Cory Hill and Thornton. The uncapped back-row duo
of Cracknell and Young are named alongside James King, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau and Sam Warburton. Scarlets pair Gareth Davies and Aled
Davies are included, along with Rhys Webb. Ospreys duo Dan Biggar and Sam Davies are joined by uncapped fly- half Williams. Jamie Roberts, Jonathan
Davies and Scott Williams are named as the centres with Hewitt and Evans joined by Alex Cuthbert, George North, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny as the back-three contingent. “I believe we have named an
exciting and experienced squad for what is going to be a thrilling RBS Six Nations Championship,” said Wales Head Coach Rob Howley. “It’s an honour to select Alun Wyn
as captain. His vast experience, as a player and a leader will help drive this squad forward and I believe he will flourish in the role. “Sam [Warburton] has led Wales
more times than any other captain and had great success in the role; however, we want him to concentrate on his game and to be the best player he can be. We had conversations during and since the autumn with Sam, no player is guaranteed their place in an international team and we want Sam to be playing his very best rugby and he agrees this is the best way forward. “There is a flavour of freshness too in
the squad, with seven uncapped players deserving their opportunity and it will be exciting to see how they perform in the international set-up. “It is shaping up to be another great
Six Nations. We have the all important carrot of Rugby World Cup seedings on the horizon post tournament and that is an important target for us, especially as we welcome the World’s number two (England) and number four (Ireland) ranked sides to Principality Stadium over the coming months.” The squad will meet up on Monday
(Jan 23) to begin preparations ahead of their opening 2017 RBS Six Nations clash against Italy in Rome on Sunday, February 5.
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