Legacy Fund

The Legacy Fund supports grassroots rugby to fund ideas that strengthen communities, spark innovation, and honour the past by investing in the future. The Fund was established to distribute the earnings from a $60 million capital base approved by the New Zealand Rugby Legacy Fund Charitable Trust, a registered charity (CC64244).

Since December 2025, the Legacy Fund has distributed nearly $2m across 30 community rugby organisations, supporting projects that will build long-term legacy within their communities. Read about the latest recipients here.

The Legacy Fund is a charitable trust, and is intended to complement, not replace, other funding sources. This could be rugby’s contribution to your next long term community infrastructure build.

Who should apply

We want to hear from rugby communities with a bold idea. Whether it’s a much-needed facility upgrade, a visionary development programme, an initiative that protects or enhances the legacy of our game, or a way to uplift your people through rugby, this charity was made to support your long-term grassroots community impact.

Applications are welcomed from eligible, legally incorporated organisations connected to community rugby in Aotearoa, including:

• Rugby clubs
• Schools
• Iwi or hapū
• Community organisations aligned to rugby

Where appropriate, applicants are encouraged to work collaboratively with local or regional partners and must seek endorsement from their relevant Provincial Union (or NZR if national in scope).

What the Legacy fund supports

Applications must align with the charitable purpose of the Legacy Fund and clearly demonstrate legacy and sustainability.

Below is a list of example projects your initiative could focus on, but it is not exhaustive. You may have ideas outside of this list which are suitable for the Legacy Fund. 

• community wellbeing and participation
• rugby development, coaching and training
• capital and facility improvements
• education and capability building
• heritage, storytelling and preserving rugby legacy
• technology that enhances delivery or engagement
• initiatives that strengthen long-term community outcomes through rugby

Applying in 2027

Applications are now closed for 2026. 

Two application rounds are expected to be held in 2027:

• Round 1 is expected to open in February or March 2027, with successful applicants announced around July 2027.
• Round 2 is expected to open in August 2027, with successful applicants announced around December 2027.
• These dates are indicative and will be confirmed as soon as possible.
• The maximum Legacy Fund request is currently $100,000 per application.
• Any changes to the 2027 funding settings will be communicated before the relevant application round opens.

Before you start your application

Talk to us first - prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Legacy Fund Manager before beginning an application.

An early conversation can help you:

• discuss your proposed project and its eligibility;
• understand how it aligns with the purpose and charitable objectives of the Legacy Fund;
• identify anything that may strengthen or clarify your proposal;
• ensure you are preparing the information and supporting documentation that will be required; and
• avoid investing significant time in an application that may not be well aligned with the Fund.

If your organisation has several possible projects, we recommend prioritising the project that is most important to the future of your rugby community rather than submitting multiple proposals.

The Legacy Fund exists to support grassroots and community rugby in ways that deliver enduring, intergenerational benefit. Priority will therefore be given to projects that can grow participation, keep people engaged in rugby, reduce barriers to involvement and strengthen the long-term future of clubs and community rugby organisations. This reflects the Fund’s underlying purpose of supporting community rugby and creating lasting benefit for future generations.

Before proceeding, ask yourself: is this project genuinely essential to the future of our organisation and rugby community, or is it simply desirable?

If it is mainly desirable, consider whether another project would have a stronger impact on participation, retention, accessibility or the long-term development of grassroots rugby.

Applicants should be able to clearly explain why the project matters, who will benefit, how it will support the growth and development of the game, and what enduring difference it will make.

Check that your application is eligible

An application must meet all applicable eligibility requirements before it can proceed to consideration by the Legacy Fund Advisory Group. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding.

To be eligible:

• the project must deliver a clear charitable public benefit through grassroots or community rugby;
• there must be no elite or high-performance purpose or component;
• the activity must be delivered in Aotearoa New Zealand;
• the applicant must be a legally recognised entity, or apply through an appropriate legally recognised host entity;
• appropriate governance and accountability arrangements must be in place;
• all necessary internal Board, Committee or organisational approvals to submit the application must have been obtained;
• the application must be endorsed by the relevant Provincial Union, or by New Zealand Rugby if national in scope;
• the applicant must be able to provide verified bank account details for an account held in the name of the applicant organisation;
• all required supporting documentation must be provided;
• where the amount requested from the Legacy Fund exceeds $50,000, two firm quotes must be supplied. Estimates are not acceptable;
• where relevant, landowner approval must have been secured;
• where external consents or authority approvals are required, the appropriate application process must have commenced and its current status must be clearly identified; and
• the project should be sufficiently advanced to be capable of completion within approximately six months of funding approval being given.

These requirements build on the mandatory eligibility and readiness confirmation already contained in the application process.

Provincial Unions are not eligible to apply for Legacy Fund funding in 2027.

Consents and approvals

We recognise that final building consent, resource consent or other external authority approval may not have been issued when an application is submitted. However:

• all necessary internal approvals to make the application must already have been obtained;
• where an external consent or approval is required, the application for that consent should already have been lodged;
• applicants must clearly identify what consents or approvals are required and their current status;
• relevant documentation should be provided with the application;
• applicants must keep the Legacy Fund updated as the consent process progresses; and
• where funding is approved, we would ordinarily expect the necessary consents and approvals to have been obtained by the time successful applications are announced.

Preparing your application

The Legacy Fund application form is completed online using Microsoft Forms. Please allow at least one hour to complete the application properly. Before starting, have your project information, facts and figures, costs, quotes, funding information, approvals and other supporting documentation ready.

Microsoft Forms does not allow an application to be saved part-way through. We use a straightforward online application process to keep administration costs proportionate and maximise the funding available to community rugby. Preparing your responses in advance will make the application process considerably easier.

Once your application has been submitted, save or print a copy for your records.

Supporting documentation

A complete application must be supported by relevant supporting documentation.

After submitting the online form, supporting documentation must be emailed to legacyfund@nzrugby.co.nz. Please include the name of your club or organisation in the email subject line.

Depending on the project, this should include:

• a clear project budget;
• firm supplier or contractor quotes;
• two firm quotes where the amount requested from the Legacy Fund exceeds $50,000;
• details of the organisation’s own financial contribution;
• information about fundraising activity;
• details of confirmed or proposed funding from other sources;
• details of meaningful in-kind contributions, such as volunteer labour, donated materials, expertise or services;
• evidence of internal approvals;
• landowner approval where applicable;
• details of required building, resource or other consents and their current status;
• plans or drawings showing the existing facility and the proposed development where applicable; and
• relevant endorsements or letters of support.

Photos and/or short videos are also encouraged where they help tell the story of your project. We recognise that preparing these requires additional effort, so they are not an essential requirement. However, good visual material can provide a much clearer understanding of the current situation, the need for the project and what the proposed development will achieve.

Your contribution and other funding

There is no prescribed minimum co-funding percentage, and applicant or external funding is not a threshold eligibility requirement. However, stronger applications will generally demonstrate commitment to the project through a combination of:

• the organisation’s own financial contribution;
• fundraising undertaken by the organisation;
• meaningful volunteer effort or other in-kind contribution;
• donated materials, expertise or services; and
• support from other community, philanthropic or funding organisations.

An application seeking 100% of the project cost from the Legacy Fund is eligible, and may be successful, but an application that demonstrates the applicant is contributing to the project and has attracted support from elsewhere will generally present a stronger case.

Do not underestimate the value of your organisation’s own mahi, this is the "rolling your sleeves up" we love.

Charitable purpose and community benefit

The principal purpose of every project must be to benefit grassroots or community rugby and deliver genuine public or community benefit.

Applicants should clearly explain:

• who will benefit from the project;
• how many people are likely to benefit;
• how the project will support access to, participation in or the delivery of community rugby;
• how it will help attract, retain or better serve participants;
• why the project is needed;
• how it responds to the future needs of the organisation and its community; and
• how the benefits will endure for future generations.

High-performance and elite rugby

Legacy Fund grants cannot be used for elite or high-performance rugby purposes.

A grassroots project may incidentally benefit participants who later progress to higher levels of the game, but that benefit must be secondary and incidental to the overriding community-rugby purpose of the project.

What makes a strong application?

Once eligibility has been established, eligible applications will be assessed comparatively.

A strong application will clearly demonstrate:

• a genuine and important need rather than something that is simply desirable;
• an enduring benefit to grassroots and community rugby;
• the potential to grow participation or help retain people in the game;
• clear benefits for the community the organisation serves;
• strong applicant commitment to the project;
• appropriate support from other funders and community organisations where available;
• realistic and well-supported project costs;
• appropriate project readiness;
• progress with all necessary consents and approvals;
• a realistic delivery programme;
• identified risks and how they will be managed;
• long-term maintenance and financial sustainability; and
• a clear intergenerational benefit.

Funding parameters

The maximum amount that can currently be requested from the Legacy Fund is $100,000.

Legacy Fund funding:

• is for future project activity;
• will not reimburse work completed or costs incurred before funding approval;
• is intended to support well-developed projects that can be delivered within a reasonable timeframe;
• should contribute to projects that deliver enduring grassroots and community rugby benefit; and
• remains subject to the funding available in each application round.

Legacy Fund funding is not available for:

• employment positions, salaries or the establishment or continuation of paid roles;
• general operating or administration costs;
• team operating costs;
• uniforms, playing apparel or similar recurring team expenditure;
• elite or high-performance rugby purposes, including player wages or inducements;
• private financial benefit to officers, employees, contractors or members, other than legitimate arm’s-length payments for services required to deliver an eligible project;
• completed projects;
• reimbursement of costs incurred before funding approval; or
• any purpose inconsistent with the charitable purposes of the Legacy Fund.

Questions? 

We understand you might have questions about if your project is suitable for the Legacy Fund, or the process itself. You can download our FAQs here, or take a look at the questions below.