The Welsh Rugby Union has announced it is investing £1 million to improve club facilities across the country and improve their sustainability.
The announcement signifies the biggest level of club facility investment that the WRU has ever provided.
The 16 A Licensed clubs competing in the Principality Premiership next season, which includes Bargoed, Bedwas and Cross Keys, will have access to a £200,000 sum which has been set aside from the facilities budget.
Clubs will be able to apply for grants for certain projects from that sum, with the potential for the amount awarded to be increased further by external funding, either sourced by the club or with the help of the WRU.
Two one-off amounts of £400,000 have also been made available to the community game in Wales.
The first has been designated to improving clubs’ off-field infrastructure, such as clubhouses, in order to improve their community and family involvement and spectator experience.
The second tranche of funding will aim to improve clubs’ playing and training facilities. The improved facilities will help grassroots clubs achieve new ‘standards’ awarded to clubs to recognise their level of club structure and development, culture and policies, rugby participation and on and off field facilities.
WRU Group Chief Executive Martyn Phillips said: “We are determined to fund Welsh rugby at every level from grass roots to the professional game, for the short and long term. ?
“The team at the WRU have worked hard, in what is always a difficult financial climate in a Rugby World Cup season, to make extra investment available.
“The £1m investment confirmed today, along with the previously communicated additional £500k for National Dual contracts, is a clear demonstration of our balanced approach to a healthy game at all levels.”
WRU chairman Gareth Davies added: “We are unerring in our determination to encourage more people to be involved in rugby more often and with more enjoyment.
“Good quality facilities to allow clubs to prosper within their communities are key to this strategy and we are delighted that our financial performance this year has enabled us to invest more than ever in this area, especially, for the first time, in facillities grant funding for the semi-professional level of the game which is key to the WRU performance pathway.”