What rugby union is worth to the nation
The first-ever research into rugby union’s social value in England has unearthed a remarkable £2.03bn being contributed during the 2023/24 season alone.
Enriching Lives: The social value of community rugby union in England was commissioned by the RFU to determine the extent of rugby union’s impact on society and has shown the profound social and economic benefits that rugby union has throughout the country.
The report, conducted in collaboration with Substance and Think Beyond, covers playing, volunteering, and RFU’s core activities including facility investment, community rugby programmes, and workforce training and development.
Key Findings:
- £707m of value through improved physical and mental health
- £823.5m social and community value, which includes £736m from volunteer efforts, £20.6m in charitable giving, £3.5m in crime reduction and £62m benefits in education and employment
- £502m economic growth through employment, investment in infrastructure and expenditure on players’ requirements
The report grouped the impacts of rugby union into three outcomes: stronger and better-connected communities, improved health and well-being, and economic growth through employment.
One significant aspect of the report was the finding that rugby union has a high social value in the most challenging areas, while improving the lives of people from all backgrounds and communities across England.
The value and importance of volunteers were also highlighted in the report. It estimates there are 89,000 volunteers devoting an average of seven hours per week to the game.
Steve Grainger, Executive Director of Rugby Development at England Rugby, said: “While everyone involved in our sport knows rugby union has a huge and positive impact on lives and communities, we had not previously determined in detail what that amounts to financially.
“This research and the published report demonstrate the impact of involvement in our sport on local communities beyond the game on the field and should be invaluable to our clubs when they need to access local partnerships and funding.”
