The grant has been award to help the club in its mission to build a sustainable rugby league club, culture and community in Brighton & Hove and the wider Sussex region. The grant will be used to fund all the kit and equipment the club needs to get started – including training kit (balls, cones, bibs etc) to start a men’s and a women’s team, and also to run social rugby league sessions. The grant will also fund playing kits, post protectors and pop up banners to help the club establish its presence in the city.
The CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants programme is delivered in partnership between RLWC2021, the sport’s national governing body the Rugby Football League (RFL), Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. The programme is a funding pot made available by the government to support the legacy of the Rugby League World Cup by growing participation in the sport.
Phil Ward, Club Chair, said of the award “I don’t think it can be understated just how valuable this award will be for us as a new club in an area of relatively little rugby league. Having access to high quality equipment and having our playing kit provided is going to create a welcoming environment for new players. It also means that we’ve been able to spend most of our energy focusing on promoting the sport rather than worrying about how to pay for equipment.
“I didn’t actually think we’d be allowed to apply for the fund because we’re a new club, but the RFL have been really supportive of our plans. With men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments all on at the same time, it’s an exciting time to be a rugby league fan. One of our goals is to make sure there’s a hub for fans of the sport in Brighton & Hove to watch the games together and build that wider community.”
Jon Dutton, Chief Executive, RLWC2021, said: “The CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants Programme is focused on ensuring the next generation of rugby league players have the best possible experience and barriers to participate are removed. We are delighted to award this grant to Brighton and look forward to seeing the results of this investment that aims to deliver real change in their community.”
Ralph Rimmer, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League, said: “Hosting the Rugby League World Cup in 2021 offers so many opportunities for everyone involved in the game in this country and beyond, and the facilities that will be delivered by the CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants Programme will be a big part of that transformation. The RFL are proud to be involved in that process, and we congratulate all the successful applicants – and look forward to the impact of this unprecedented level of investment in the game for years to come.”
Charles Johnston, Property Director, Sport England, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership to deliver the biggest government investment into grassroots rugby league facilities the country has ever seen. With this funding, communities will gain better access to the facilities, improved infrastructure and essential equipment they need to be active. We are pleased the investment will provide benefit to people engaging in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair game, with a focus on those disadvantaged areas where inactivity levels are stubbornly high. By focusing our efforts on increasing participation in the game, we’re ensuring that the Rugby League World Cup’s legacy lasts long after the last ball has been kicked and the crowds have gone home.”
The Rugby League World Cup 2021 will kick off on 23 October 2021, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions taking place simultaneously, under one tournament banner for the first time.
Clubs, organisations and communities that run rugby league activities are encouraged to apply for this legacy funding by visiting www.rlwc2021.com/facilities.