Legacy Fund provides $1.2m directly to community rugby clubs

18 community rugby clubs will receive a boost to their facilities through the latest distribution of grants from the Legacy Fund. 

A total of $1,289,949.48 will be distributed across the successful clubs, which are spread across the country, from Whangaruru in the north to Invercargill in the south. 14 Provincial Unions are represented in this round of funding, including four Heartland Unions. A total of 70 applications were received, seeking a combined $5m of project funding.

All successful applications were based around improving or developing clubrooms, women and girls changing rooms or playing fields. 

The New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Board approved the recipients last week, after reviewing a shortlist provided by the Legacy Fund Advisory Group, made up of representatives from NZR’s Board and management, Provincial Unions, Māori rugby, Pasifika rugby, and Sport New Zealand.

This follows the inaugural round of Legacy Fund grants allocated in December 2025, where $687,438 was shared across 12 projects, and takes total distributions in the last eight months to just under $2m. A dozen of the new successful recipients had strengthened their previous 2025 submission and have been allocated funding in this round.

The Legacy Fund New Zealand Rugby Legacy Fund Charitable Trust is a registered charity (CC64244) that distributes the annual earnings on a $60m perpetual fund held by New Zealand Rugby. The Fund was a key part of the capital investment into rugby in New Zealand in 2023 and supports projects which will have an intergenerational impact of the game. 

Greg Barclay, NZR Board Member and Chair of the Legacy Fund Advisory Group said:
“It’s an honour to be able to distribute these funds directly into the heart of community rugby. Clubs and community organisations play a critical role in their local communities and in the journey of our elite players. Helping to future-proof facilities in this way reflects the purpose of the Legacy Fund and the importance of supporting club and community rugby health and participation across the country.”

Legacy Fund Manager Cameron Bell added:
“It’s been really special to see the kaupapa of the Legacy Fund become a reality. Projects from last year’s inaugural round of grants have come to life, with a number of clubs now having female changing facilities or enjoying redeveloped clubrooms throughout this 2026 season. This has future-proofed club environments that are more welcoming and safer for all participants. We’re looking forward to seeing these latest recipients move forward with their projects.

“Once again, the demand for this type of support was really strong. I spoke to a lot of applicants personally to assist their understanding of the process and what I took from that was the deep passion that exists in the grassroots game. There’s a lot of good happening in rugby, and we’re proud that the Fund enables projects that support the future of the game right across the country. Our aim is to continue to grow the Fund’s base so we can further its impact.”

The next application window for the Legacy Fund runs from Monday 10 August - Friday 18 September, with successful recipients announced in December. 

For more information, visit www.nzrugby.co.nz/legacyfund

Successful grants were awarded to:

• Auckland University Rugby Football Club (Auckland) - Facility development
• College Rifles Rugby Club (Auckland) – Field lighting development
• Excelsior Rugby & Associated Sports Club (North Otago) - Women and Girls facilities
• Glenfield Rugby Union and Sports Club (North Harbour) - Facility development
• Hautapu Sports and Recreation Club (Waikato) - Facility development
• Hauraki North RFC (Thames Valley) – Turf development
• Huia Rugby Football (Tasman) – Facility development
• Kurow Rugby Football Club (North Otago) - Facility development
• Levin College Old Boys Rugby Football Club (Horowhenua Kapiti) – Accessible facility development
• Napier Technical Sport and Recreational Organisation (Hawke’s Bay) - Women and Girls facilities
• Northcote Birkenhead Rugby Union Sports Club (North Harbour) – Women and Girls facilities
• Okaiawa Rugby and Sports Club (Taranaki) - Facility development
• Old Boys Sports Club Timaru (South Canterbury) - Facility development
• Star Rugby Football Club (Southland) - Women and Girls facilities
• Stoke Rugby Football Club (Tasman) - Field lighting development
• University of Canterbury Rugby Football Club (Canterbury) - Women and Girls facilities
• Waimana Sports & Cultural Club (Bay of Plenty) - Facility development
• Whangaruru Rugby Football Club (Northland) - Facility development