Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $25,000 to $150,000
- Application opened: 15 December 2025
- Application closed: 23 February 2026, 1:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives align with Rugby Australia’s strategy and NSW Rugby Union and ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union’s strategy to - increase inclusion and boost participation in Rugby Union, specifically for under-represented groups, including women and girls, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, First Nations peoples and LGBTQIA+ people.
Category 1 - Infrastructure stream - key objectives are to:
- Improve the quality and/or quantity of Rugby facilities in NSW
- Increase the utilisation of Rugby facilities in NSW
- Support the equitable provision of, and access to, Rugby facilities to grow participation for under-represented groups
- Improve the Rugby experience for players, referees, coaches, administrators, and spectators
These objectives are in line with the Rugby Australia National Infrastructure focus areas of:
- Improve accessibility & capacity of facilities
- Promote inclusive participation by enhancing community club facilities
- Target priority regions by addressing demand in vital areas for participation and population growth
This program is administered by Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Category 1 – Infrastructure
Eligible applicants are:
- Incorporated, not for profit rugby union clubs, associations, zones in NSW that are affiliated and have met compliance requirements by NSWRU and/or ACT&SNSWRU.
- Local Government Authorities in NSW
Types of projects funded under this grant
Category 1 – Infrastructure
Funds can be used for constructing new or upgrading existing Rugby facilities that demonstrate inclusive and accessible design and maximise community participation.
Examples of eligible project types and project components include:
- New or upgraded synthetic, hybrid or turf pitches, including improvements to pitch drainage, full resurfacing and irrigation.
- New or improved field lighting.
- Upgraded or new amenity buildings such as gender neutral change rooms, canteen/kiosk, club rooms, grandstands, seating, shade/shelter, or storage spaces that are universally designed.
Staged components of a larger facility development are eligible, providing the stage being applied for meets the Program eligibility criteria.Acknowledging that many venues in NSW are used for multiple sports, facility development projects supported through the Program must demonstrate the primary benefit is to Rugby participants and stakeholders.
Investment will prioritise projects that target priority regions by addressing demand in vital areas for participation and population growth (priority regions) that address the key areas of priority identified in the Rugby National Facility Audit:
- Provide female friendly change rooms
- Improve the club rooms environment
- Adequate and sustainable lighting to provide safe environments and increase time to play
When the project can start and end
Projects should commence from June 2026 and must be completed by June 2028.
The project must be completed by 30 June 2028.
Outcomes for projects funded under this grant
The objectives align with Rugby Australia’s strategy and NSW Rugby Union and ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union’s strategy to - increase inclusion and boost participation in Rugby Union, specifically for under-represented groups, including women and girls, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, First Nations peoples and LGBTQIA+ people.
Who can’t apply
Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘Eligible Applicants’ section for each respective category; and include (but are not limited to):
- Individuals, groups, Rugby organisations or deliverers who are not affiliated by NSWRU and/or ACT&SNSWRU and do not supply a letter of support from either NSWRU or ACT&SNSWRU as part of their application.
- These include but are not limited to:
- Individuals
- Private Rugby academies
- Super Rugby clubs (men and women)
- Schools, universities and TAFE’s
- Parents and Citizens (P&C’s) Associations
- Organisations named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Examples of ineligible project types and project components include:
- Facilities that are not primarily used for Rugby activities.
- Facilities that are on private land unless there is clear public benefit to the community Rugby and have documented consent from the landowner.
- Purchase or lease of land/facility.
- Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans.
- Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application for funding under this program.
- Items that do not meet relevant Australian standards.
- General maintenance or repair of normal wear and tear of facilities, e.g. running costs and minor repairs to existing facilities.
- Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance.
- General administration or operating expenses such as rent or wages for administrative and/or executive staff.
- Related to buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment (e.g. lawn mowers, portable scoreboards, goalposts or grandstands, cones, computers, office goods, clothing and footwear).
- Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to submission of your application.
- Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional scope is identified.
- For the building or upgrade of licensed areas and gaming areas.
- Project administration costs, such as project management administration staffing.
- Ancillary infrastructure e.g. car park, access road.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Refer to the Supporting Documentation section, on page 18 of the Program Guidelines.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Step 1: Check your eligibility
- See Eligible Applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding.
- If you are not eligible, you may be able to partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application
Step 2: Understand the requirements
- Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials including the application checklist to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
- You can find the relevant information on the Office of Sport’s website: NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Program
Step 3: Prepare your application
- Gather your evidence including letters of support, funding commitments, development approvals/exemptions, images, plans, quotes, participation data etc.
- Consider using the SmartyGrants tool, SmartyFile. The tool allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms and manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. Applicants with an ABN can use this function.
Step 4: Submit your application
- Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.
- The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline.
- Complete your application by filling in each of the sections. The SmartyGrants portal will not accept submission of an application unless all mandatory documents have been uploaded.
- Submit your application as soon as possible and before the closing date and time.
- You will be asked to declare that “The responses in this application and all supporting documents provided are to the best of my knowledge true and correct”. The application may be deemed ineligible if the application contains false or misleading statements.
- Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
- Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Sport
The NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Program is administered by the Office of Sport in two stages:
- Eligibility check
- Merit assessment
Throughout the assessment process the Office of Sport may request additional information from the applicant. An independent probity advisor will oversee the grant process and attend all Grant Assessment Panel meetings. The Minister for Sport will consider the recommendations of the Grant Assessment Panel and make decisions relating to the approval of funding.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is May 2026 onwards
Support and contact
Office of Sport - Grants
grants@sport.nsw.gov.au
13 13 02 (option 5)
