New WRU Facilities Grant of £650, 000 to help clubs

Well this is interesting, just after we here news of Merthyr RFC getting big investment we now get this announcement:-

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced that £650,000 will be made available to help clubs improve their facilities.

The money will be invested in a range of improvement projects from playing and training facilities to clubhouse improvements.

This Facilities Grant is one of a number of similar schemes which have been announced since 2012 to help boost the infrastructure of club rugby in Wales.

The £650,000 will be invested by successful clubs across next season on priority schemes to improve their facilities. All clubs are eligible to apply for a grant for qualifying expenditure within the scheme and the amounts awarded by the WRU can be boosted further by match funding initiatives.

WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, said: "I am delighted our outstanding financial performance this year has allowed us to yet again invest a substantial sum of money directly into the community game.

"This investment can rejuvenate and modernise our clubs which in turn helps them to encourage even more people to take up rugby, and generally get involved with rugby clubs in any capacity. Our investment in the community game across recent years has been strong and I am delighted we are able to continue this level of support."

WRU chairman, Gareth Davies, said: "This £650,000 will go directly to the heart of the community game into those clubs where it is most needed. The support of grassroots rugby in Wales is a clear priority for the WRU and this extra investment announcement shows our determination to help clubs through meaningful investment whenever possible.

"We must have a strong grassroots game and Facilities Grants reward those clubs with the ambition and foresight to plan for the future."

All clubs wishing to apply for Facilities Grant funding next season should contact the WRU Club Operations Team to attend one of a series of workshops being organised around Wales from September. The workshops will provide advice and guidance on applying for grants, both in terms of the WRU Facilities Grants and other external funding opportunities. The workshops will also help clubs look at long term facilities planning in order to make their clubs more sustainable for the future.

Clubs wishing to register their interest in attending a Funding Workshop should contact Eleri Owen by telephone 02920 822424 or email eowen@wru.co.uk.

Roger Lewis is being quite the busy chap despite being on gardening leave, first the big Cap upgrade with a model hotel and the what not, now this, where is Gareth Davies, and why is he not bringing us this news ?

Lord, the Dodger HAS to put out all the good news as he will say he organised it all, don't forget this has come about since the NEW committee has been installed and Gareth gave a response as well in that piece.