Thanet go to head of the class

Thanet Wanderers have topped the league of English clubs in the results of the Rugby Football Union's first annual club questionnaire.

The Kent side play in Powergen London League One, four divisions below the big guns of the Zurich Premiership.

But they were the highest scorers in the table which awards points for community clubs who encourage participation, have high standards of coaching, plan to improve their facilities and provide a safe environment for players and spectators.

Other leading clubs throughout the country were Luton, in the Midlands; Oxford Harlequins in the South West; and Macclesfield, in the North.

The level of funding received by clubs is determined by their answers to the questionnaire and the survey-also provides the RFU with a detailed picture of the national game.

"We're very pleased to have come top and it proves we're doing things right," said Thanet secretary Peter Hawkins.

"We've been getting everything in order from mini to senior rugby and we've taken advantage of all the courses available to get people trained and qualified."

Thanet rely on their youth policy to develop talent with a liaison officer visiting local schools to coach children. As a result, Wanderers have won the Kent Colts Cup three years in succession.

The next step is to convert that into senior success under new captain Paul Campey and to win promotion to the National Leagues.