By Dave Barton, Regional Media Manager

Rugby clubs in England have been awarded £6.4million as part of the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP).

The CCDP is an innovative collaboration between the Government, Sport England and sports governing bodies aimed at improving facilities. The Rugby Football Union will receive £9.4m for the three-year programme and £6,441,189 has already been allocated to 98 projects throughout the country.

In addition, the Rugby Football Union for Women has been awarded £70,000 as part of Sport England’s Modernisation Programme, taking this latest investment in rugby union to £6,511,189.

The RFU projects range from putting down artificial pitches and improvements in existing playing surfaces to providing lighting for first team and training pitches to enable more people from more communities to take part in the game.

RFU Community Rugby and Operations Director Terry Burwell said, “We are delighted to make these awards. The club is key to the local and regional development of rugby union and we are committed to making sure that the club continues to provide increased opportunities for all who wish to participate in rugby.

“The Community Club Development Programme represents a new way of working for the RFU, whereby we are involved in the initial selection of projects that should receive funding based on our own strategic plans. These clubs have already invested in resources to increase club membership and bring more people into the game. This further investment will help us to achieve our vision of more people enjoying their rugby at better clubs that are open to all.”

Sue Eakers, chair of the RFUW, said, “We are delighted to accept this funding. This is a great opportunity for the women’s game to move forward and for our members to feel the benefits of investment at grassroots level.”

Sport England Chief Executive Roger Draper said, “The Community Club Development Programme is an innovative way of helping to ensure that community clubs - the heart of grassroots sports development in England - receive the capital investment they need.

“The additional investment for the Rugby Football Union for Women derives from savings made through Sport England’s Modernisation Programme, money we have freed up from the back office directly to support front-line sport. This is central to achieving our vision of making England the most active and successful sporting nation in the world.”

CCDP PROJECT EXAMPLES

Midlands
Peterborough RUFC, in one of the top 13% most deprived parts of the country, have been awarded a grant of £58,484 towards the installation of floodlights to increase the number of matches they can play. The new facilities will compliment the club’s existing provision and enable it to host night time matches, including local school games. The club is a key site for the development of rugby union in the area and this investment will help to ensure the club’s long-term future.

Mansfield’s planned third generation rubber crumb training surfaces at their Eakring Road ground, with work beginning at the end of the season, along with investment in drainage and floodlighting, will considerably extend training times available for sport in the area, the development having been made possible thanks to grants worth £259,409 from the RFU in conjunction with Sport England.

South East
Slough RFC has been awarded £31,023 towards the cost of floodlights for training purposes. The club has strong links with the Berkshire Sports Partnership and the local authority and is seeking to increase its membership from local ethnic communities. The project has been strategically identified by the Rugby Football Union as a key site in the area for the development of the sport.

South West
Camborne RFC, who are located in one of the top 10% most deprived parts of the country, have received an award of £68,071 towards full-pitch training lights. The club already has 150 juniors actively participating in the club and is seeking to increase this through this investment. The club has been strategically identified by the Cornwall Sports Partnership, Cornwall Rugby Football Union, as well as the National Governing Body. North Dorset RFC received an award of £45,000 towards match floodlights for the first XV pitch, the club having already invested more than £250,000 in their club house and changing rooms.