Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of funding for grassroots rugby infrastructure.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.

This includes long term investment to The Rugby Football Union, the National Governing Body for rugby in England, which receives up to £13.8 million for five years to invest in community rugby initiatives that will benefit everyone.

Furthermore, as part of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Facility Fund between 2023 and 2027 the RFU will receive £7 million investment to enhance the grassroots rugby experience for women.