NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Program 2026/27 - Category 1

Eligible applicants are: 

• Incorporated, not for profit rugby union clubs, associations, zones in NSW that are affiliated and have met compliance requirements of NSWRU and/or ACT&SNSWRU.
• Local Government Authorities in NSW.

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.  Each project must explain how it incorporates environmental sustainability features and/or climate resilience measures.  

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 room environment
• Adequate and sustainable lighting to provide safe environments and increase time to play
• Improve turf to provide improved safety, or drought and flood relief.

Category 1 – Infrastructure: Projects should commence from January 2027 and must be completed by January 2029.

The project must be completed by 1 January 2029.

The objectives align with Rugby Australia’s strategy and NSW Rugby Union and ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union’s strategy and are listed below.

Category 1 - Infrastructure stream - key objectives are to: 

• Improve the quality, adaptability, environmental sustainability and/or climate resilience 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

Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘Eligible Applicants’ section for each respective category; and include (but are not limited to):  

Category 1 – Infrastructure

• Rugby union clubs, associations, zones or other deliverers who are not affiliated with, or have not met compliance requirements of NSWRU and/or ACT&SNSWRU.
• Individuals 
• Private Rugby academies 
• Super Rugby clubs (men and women)
• State Sporting Organisations/State Sporting Organisation for people with Disability 
• National Sporting Organisations/National Sporting Organisation for people with Disability
• Schools, universities and TAFE’s 
• Parents and Citizens (P&C’s) Associations 
• Organisations named:
  • 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
  • in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.

Category 1 – Infrastructure

Examples of ineligible project types and project components include: 

• Facilities that are not primarily used for Rugby activities. 
• Projects that are located outside NSW.
• 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 such as line-marking.
• 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. gym equipment, lawn mowers, portable scoreboards,goalposts or grandstands, cones, computers, office goods, clothing and footwear. 
• Purchase and Installation of Scoreboards
• 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.

Project budgets should not include any ineligible costs, and these will be removed by assessors if included, at the absolute discretion of the Office of Sport.

All applications are expected to provide a minimum 25% financial co-contribution of the total project cost (e.g. if an applicant’s total project cost is $100,000, they should have at least a $25,000 co-contribution).