On Wednesday 10th June 2015 we were delighted to host an evening with our wonderful sponsors. There are many photos of the event on our Facebook page. Thank you to all our sponsors who took time out of their busy schedules to attend.

During the course of the evening Colchester were delighted to donate cheques of £1,250 each to Essex Air Ambulance, RFU Injured Players Foundation and Wooden Spoon. At our Community Day in May a cheque was presented for £1,250 to Jersey Holiday for Heroes. The money was raised over the season at the Club lunches so many thanks to our sponsors and their guests, our patrons, our committee and all supporters who have contributed so generously over the season to raise much money.

Also during the evening President Andy Wadling was very proud to accept a plaque from John Phoenix, Chairman of Eastern Counties Rugby Union to acknowledge the Club has reached a further milestone in it's history by maintaining Rugby Football Unions Accreditation status. Thank you to John Phoenix, John Winders and Andrew Sarek from Eastern Counties RFU.

RFU Accreditation recognises the efforts and achievements of volunteers in reaching standards required across the whole range of activities within a rugby club; in planning for the long term sustainability of the club in the local community and the development of rugby union in general. Clubs are assessed by the RFU and must demonstrate evidence of good practice in areas such as club management, player development and recruitment, sports equity, coaching, refereeing and volunteering.

Jonathan Pearce, the RFU's Rugby Development Officer says "the Colchester Club has greatly benefited by going through this process. A strategy has now been set out in an action plan that will encourage further development within the Club to follow on from this exciting season". John Phoenix believes "it is significant that the Club has chosen to mark this occasion at an event recognising the importance of sponsorship to the Club. This recognition that the Club must develop from it's local community bodes well for it's future."