Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with sporting bodies on increasing rugby participation in schools.

Rugby remains an established part of school sport and there are clear inequalities among girls, disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs.

The department maintains regular engagement with sporting bodies, including the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League. These organisations report growing participation in schools and are investing in and are investing in formats such as T1 (non-contact) rugby, tag rugby and touch rugby, which can help schools introduce the sport more easily and safely.

We are investing over £1 billion in PE and school sport over the next three years, including £530 million for the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. The Network will strengthen links between schools, governing bodies and local clubs, helping to identify and remove barriers to participation and ensuring that rugby, including contact rugby, and other sports are accessible to young people across the country.