NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Grant Program
The NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Program is an initiative of the NSW Government, NSW Rugby Union, ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union and Rugby Australia as a result of NSW hosting Men’s Rugby World Cup matches in New South Wales in October and November 2027.
Important dates
- Applications open – Monday 15 December 2026
- Applications close – 1 pm, Monday 16 February 2026
- Application outcome date – May 2026 onwards
- Grants must be accepted –
- Category 1: Within 6 weeks of notification of successful applicants via a milestone Funding Agreement.
- Category 2: Within 2 weeks of notification of successful applicants via acceptance of Terms and Conditions (Claim of Grant form).
Project delivery timeframe – for successful applications:
- Category 1: Infrastructure: Projects should commence from June 2026 and must be completed by June 2028.
- Category 2: Participation: Projects commence within 3 months of the notification to successful applicants and must be completed by December 2027.
The Office of Sport reserves the right to amend any of these dates during the Program, at its absolute discretion.
Key objectives
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
Category 2 - Participation stream - key objectives are to:
- Increase participation in Rugby with new or enhanced programs, competitions or tournaments
- Increase opportunities for participation in Rugby for under-represented groups.
Information session
The information session for NSW Rugby World Cup Legacy Program provides an explanation of the program guidelines and how to apply.
Funding availability
The NSW Government has allocated up to $2,150,000 for this Program in 2025/26.
Category 1: Applicants will not be granted less than $25,000 or more than $150,000, applicants are limited to one (1) application.
Category 2: Applicants will not be granted less than $5,000 or more than $20,000, applicants may submit up to two (2) applications. Applicants must prioritise their projects in order of preference.
Eligible applicants
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 .
Category 2 –Participation
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.
Applications involving partnerships between groups are encouraged and will be considered favourably. For example, an eligible applicant may partner with their local council or landowner, who may provide a financial co-contribution, and/or perform as the delivery team. The partner may complete portions of the application on behalf of the eligible applicant. For partnership applications, a Tripartite Funding Agreement is appropriate and can be requested via the application form.
Ineligible applicants
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
- Local Government Councils (only for Category 2 - Participation streams)
- 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.
Eligible projects
Category 1 – Infrastructure
Funds can be used for constructing new or upgrading existing Rugby Union 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
Category 2 - Participation
Funds can be used to support increased Rugby Union new or enhanced participation programs, competitions or tournaments.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- New or enhanced programs/competitions targeting participation increase for women and girls’ participation (e.g. girls leagues)
- New or enhanced programs/competitions targeting participation of under-represented groups and/or new markets e.g. First Nations or Pasifika groups
- New or enhanced non-contact programs/competitions to introduce new audiences to Rugby e.g. Tri Tag Rugby programs
- New or enhanced programs targeting introductory programs for children and young people e.g. Get into Rugby programs or Tri Tag Rugby programs
- Accredited coaching, officiating or inclusive education, leadership development or training to support new or enhanced programs/competitions
Examples of eligible cost items include (but are not limited to:
- Staff including co-ordinators, coaches/facilitators to directly run programs/competitions
- Marketing costs - limited to 10% of grant amount request
- Equipment (e.g. Tri Tag belts for a Tri Tag program, or new female uniforms for a women and girls program) – limited to 20% of grant amount request
- Education courses (eg: coaching, officiating or first aid)
- Education presenter (eg: contractor to deliver training/learning opportunity)
Ineligible projects
Category 1 – Infrastructure
Examples of ineligible project types and project components include:
- Facilities that are not primarily used for Rugby Union 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.
Category 2 - Participation
Examples of ineligible projects/project costs include:
- Subsidised membership or participation fees
- Projects that are not primarily for Rugby Union activities
- Projects that do not align with Rugby Australia and World Rugby game formats and introductory programs
- Food, drink, catering or hospitality
- Prize money, trophies/awards or attendance incentives not related to proposed activity
- Entertainment
- Events that are organised for the primary purpose of fundraising, including charity fundraising events
- Individual scholarships/sponsorships
- Subsidy for school sporting activities and events
- Programs/events that are one-off in nature and do not support ongoing participation opportunities e.g. a stand-alone gala day or ‘Come and Try’ event
- Ongoing and annual operational costs e.g., staff wages and administration costs that relate to the running of the club/organisation including yearly subscriptions/memberships and venue hire
- Purchase or rental of land or premises, vehicles, office equipment (e.g.: office furniture, printers, photocopiers, technology hardware)
- Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional project scope is identified
- Retrospective funding e.g., projects that have already commenced or been completed prior to May 2026
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.
Application process
- See Eligible Applicants section of the 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.
- Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
- You can find the relevant information in the supporting documents
- 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.
- 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.
Submissions that are submitted successfully 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.
- Late applications can only be made where an applicant has started an application in SmartyGrants prior to the closing date/time.
- If for any reason you are not able to lodge your application on time, you must contact the Office of Sport within 1 hour after the closing date/time.
- A late application will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.
- The final determination on whether a late application will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by an independent probity advisor.
- If any document is not available prior to the closing date/time and you would like to submit this for consideration you must contact grants@sport.nsw.gov.au
- Any decision in relation to the acceptance of late supporting documentation will be at the absolute discretion of the Office of Sport.
- Late supporting documentation will only be accepted for applications already submitted in SmartyGrants before the closing date and time and will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.
- The final determination on whether a late supporting documentation will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by an independent probity advisor.
Supporting documents
- Program Guidelines (PDF, 696.51 KB)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Landowner Consent Form
- Funding Agreement Template (PDF, 746.25 KB)
- Claim of Grant Form Template.pdf (PDF, 193.61 KB)
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions about the application process.