RLWC2021 InspirationALL ambassador Jodie Cunningham returned to her former school, Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Warrington, to present one of the first seven CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants projects, which range from kit and equipment for weekly touch rugby league sessions at Castleford Tigers Women to a clubhouse refresh for Wigan St Judes ARLFC.
The seven chosen small grant schemes, part of the tournament’s wider InspirationALL legacy initiative, are the first to receive funding for the provision of capital items, kit and equipment or to refurbish and improve existing facilities.
Applications for grants have been open since October 2018, with a total of £10 million available for local clubs and community projects to create a positive impact. £9 million will be allocated to large-scale requests costing more than £15,000, with the remaining £1 million being granted to smaller-scale projects. The government investment, delivered in partnership with the RFL and Sport England, is part of RLWC2021’s ambitious plan to leave a lasting legacy.
The grants have been awarded to the following:
- Aspatria Hornets RLFC – The club has been granted cash to purchase a professional lawn mower for their new home pitch and some rugby equipment for their juniors
- Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Warrington – Funds will go towards the school’s aim to increase female engagement in the region with new equipment and goal posts allowing the school to develop its training, competition and guidance offering to potential new players
- Castleford Tigers Women – The club will use the funds to establish a weekly touch rugby club for girls with a variety of rugby equipment
- Drighlington Amateur Rugby League Club – CreatedBy will replace their old rusty posts, with new ones and will supply new post protectors to go with them
- Golborne High School in Wigan– The school has been awarded new rugby equipment, kit and post protectors
- South Leeds Spartans ARLFC – The club has been awarded with new kit and equipment to grow the number of girls teams it can provide. The new under-8s and under-10s sides will join the already established under-12s, under-14s and under-16s groups
- Wigan St Judes ARLFC – The club aims to complete a refurbishment of their existing clubhouse by replacing doors and windows, modernising the bar facilities, replacing flooring and improving sanitary areas
Jon Dutton, Chief Executive of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to announce the first round of funding, which has been made available to help these seven worthy projects. Our CreatedBy Capital grants will make an immediate impact more than two years before our tournament begins and we look forward to seeing more projects get underway very soon.”
Ralph Rimmer, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League, added: “There are so many reasons for the game to be excited about RLWC2021, and the CreatedBy Capital Grants Programme is right up there. These seven awards are the first of many over the next couple of years and give a hint of the range of clubs and other organisations that are going to benefit. Congratulations to the seven successful bidders, and I know they’ll put the investment to good use for the development of Rugby League.”
