British & Irish Lions Reveals £3m Women’s Rugby Fund

The British & Irish Lions has launched a £3m funding grant which will develop women’s rugby union player and coaching pathways across the UK and Ireland.

The ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ grant comes as part of the Lions women’s team’s founding partnership with investment and pensions company Royal London.

Funding will be distributed to each of the respective national bodies: England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU), the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

Having launched in January this year, the British & Irish Lions women’s team’s inaugural New Zealand tour will take place in 2027, comprising three test matches against the Black Ferns.

British & Irish Lions CEO, Ben Calveley, said, “Supporting the growth of the women’s game is a key strategic priority for The British & Irish Lions as it is for each of our constituent Unions. 

“Royal London’s ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ grant represents a significant investment into the women’s game in the four Unions and will make a positive impact on women’s rugby. 

“Royal London are an outstanding partner to The British & Irish Lions and a consistent advocate both for the Lions Women’s Tour and for the women’s game. 

“We look forward to working closely with them over the coming years as we build towards this historic Tour in 2027.”

Each of the respective organisations has detailed its own funding plan. The RFU says it will aim to bolster its ‘player development groups’, while the SRU will hire two performance pipeline coaches to host additional U18 and U20 camps and training fixtures.

The WRU will add five new coaches to its women’s pathway staff, including a performance pathway coaching, physical development lead, performance pathway scientist, as well as a set piece coach and a specialist skills coach.

Lastly, the IRFU’ will use its funding to launch a ‘coach accelerator scholarship program’ for women with aspirations of becoming rugby coaches, and will set up additional women’s U18 and U20 camps and training matches to drive player development.

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