WRU calls on clubs to improve their business plans and help grass roots rugby grow

The Welsh Rugby Union are releasing a detailed Club Funding Index (CFI), making available to all member clubs information on how grants have been distributed over the past five years, and is calling for clubs to look at their own business plans and pinpoint how they can improve.

The WRU has handed out around £27million in that time period, and is asking clubs to see what grants have been handed out, if they could be relevant to them, and to update their business plans accordingly in order to grow.

It is hoped that all clubs will maximise their potential to grow, meaning Welsh rugby moves up another notch in the development and nurturing of new talent.

The CFI is being distributed to all 314 Welsh rugby clubs for their administrators to study.

Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “We want every rugby club in Wales to achieve all the financial benefits they are entitled to access through the WRU.

“It is clear that some clubs are excellent at maximising their income streams to improve facilities, run more teams and generally put themselves on a more solid financial footing.

“By drawing up this detailed Club Funding Index we are providing a roadmap for all clubs to see exactly what they could be achieving.

“A powerful grassroots game is vitally important for the future of Welsh rugby. Helping the clubs achieve long term sustainability and boosting participation is our declared aim.”

The money the WRU has distributed over the past five years has gone towards: helping improve clubs, pitches, floodlights and changing rooms, and provided 52 full-time staff focussed on helping community rugby, and identifying a series of external funding streams in the process.

A WRU statement added: “The money accessed by the clubs has improved the infrastructure of rugby across Wales with projects including 34 clubhouse refurbishments, 23 pitch projects, 63 floodlighting projects and 44 changing room refurbishments.

“Four stands and nine training or all-weather areas have been built, and a large number of supporting projects have been completed.”

The CFI includes the core development grants which are available to all clubs, plus loans and the supply of equipment such as rugby balls. Some of the money identified is available through Sport Wales grants, which are achieved by the alignment of health and fitness strategies.

The move has been reported to be welcomed by some clubs, including Pontyclun RFC.

Keith Ruggles, from the club, said: “The WRU have made it a lot easier. They’ve got a centre of contact now who you can actually go to and say, ‘well, what have you got available’, and they’re actually telling us what grants are available now.

“Every club, I think, should go for it.”