Royal London opens applications for £10k Grassroots Rugby award

• Applications open for the Grassroots Rugby Award 
• Four winning clubs each receive £10,000 to invest in their club 

Royal London, founding partner of the British & Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Team, today announces that applications are open for its annual 'Championing Women and Girls’ Grassroots Rugby Award'. The initiative recognises four clubs per year, one chosen from each Union (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales), who will receive a trophy plus a £10,000 grant to invest in their women and girls' programmes. Applications are open until 1 August 2025 via the Lions' website. 

Building on Royal London's commitment to support the long-term development of women’s rugby across the UK and Ireland, the programme recognises grassroots clubs which are championing participation, inclusion, and equality within their local communities and inspiring future generations.  

Successful clubs will have demonstrated a strong commitment to growing participation and representation across all aspects of their club, including: 

• Community outreach and access to playing opportunities 
• Promoting equality across club activities 
• Celebrating women’s successes and achievements 
• Supporting the progression of players, coaches, staff, and leadership at all levels 

Last year, the inaugural award saw over 120 clubs applying, with winners including Guisborough RUFC (England), Cooke RFC (Ireland), East Kilbride RFC (Scotland), and Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon (Wales). While progress is being made, gender disparities in access to sport persist, but Royal London’s partnership aims to reshape the future of women’s rugby. Royal London’s own research* highlights that only 15% of women were offered the chance to play rugby at school compared to 44% of men. In contrast, women are more likely to have been offered netball (63%) and athletics (60%). Yet, interest remains high; 12% of women have never played rugby but would like to, rising to 24% among women aged 18-24.  

The landscape is shifting – for example, 63% of women aged 18-24 have been offered football at school, a significant increase from just 15% of women aged 55-64. The opportunities are improving, but there is still a long way to go. Looking across all nations, 34% of people in Wales have had the chance to play rugby, compared to 29% in England, 27% in Scotland, and 19% in Ireland.  

Susie Logan, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Royal London said: 

"Royal London is dedicated to levelling the playing field for women. We want to unlock the potential of women and girls through rugby — empowering them to lead, succeed, and thrive both on and off the field.  

"We believe meaningful change begins at the grassroots level, which is essential to the growth of the women's game. This award shines a spotlight on the outstanding initiatives led by clubs to support women’s and girl's rugby in their communities. We’re excited to see clubs rise to the challenge, share their stories, and showcase their commitment to driving progress."

Shaunagh Brown, Royal London ambassador said: 

"Grassroots rugby is the backbone of the game, and as a former player and now coach, I see firsthand the positive impact it has. Whilst things are improving, there’s still a long way to go to give more women and girls the opportunity to experience rugby. This award and the grants from Royal London will make a huge impact for the winning clubs and showcase to others what's possible."