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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of rugby community foundations on public health.

The Government recognises the role rugby community foundations play in promoting physical and mental well-being, raising aspirations, and building stronger, more cohesive communities.

While professional rugby community foundations operate as independent charitable arms of their clubs, we monitor the financial health of rugby union closely and engage regularly with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs to support the ongoing sustainability of elite and grassroots rugby union. Through public bodies such as Sport England, we continue to invest in grassroots and community sport programmes that align with our national priorities on health, education, and community development.

Sport England provides long term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Football Union between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby union.

Sport England’s Movement Fund also offers grants between £500 - £15,000 to support projects that support getting more people active, which includes rugby community outreach programmes.