Originally published in the 2020 Grand Final edition of Rugby News

The 2020 rugby season has been a tough one for grassroots rugby clubs of all sizes both on and off the field. Fortunately, a number of clubs and organisations across New South Wales have benefited from substantial financial grants provided by The Rugby Club Foundation.

Following the sale of its premises at Rugby Place at Circular Quay, The Rugby Club became The Rugby Club Foundation in 2017. In pursuing its strategic vision of “Sharing the Spirit of the Game’’, the Foundation provides financial grants to grassroots Rugby clubs and organisations in support of a range of grassroots Rugby initiatives across the state.

“The Rugby Club Foundation is committed to increasing its financial support of grassroots Rugby as the Foundation grows and develops. This year we have delivered more than $328,000 in financial grants focused on enabling the delivery of programs to introduce newcomers to this great game and encourage skills development,” Chair of the Foundation’s Grants Committee, Paula Ward said.

“This is the largest amount of funding the Foundation has been able to provide to date and in the current environment is immensely satisfying.”

The Rugby Club Foundation provided 18 grants in 2020 and awarded the Sir Leslie Herron Rugby Scholarships for the first time since 2008.

The scholarships, named after the inaugural president of the Rugby Club, were awarded annually from 2004 to 2008 to support the development of one player nominated by the Sydney Junior Rugby Union and one player nominated by the NSW Junior Country Rugby Union.

In 2020, the Foundation awarded the two-year scholarships to Ally Bullman from the Seaforth Raiders and Jayden Blake from the Dubbo Roos.

Bullman plays both 7s and 15s rugby and is training to gain selection in the Australian Schools 7s team in 2021.

Blake was named the NSW Country Junior Player of the Year this season and will begin training with the NSW Generation Blue squad after completing his studies in Dubbo this year.

Applications for Financial Grants for the 2021 season can be submitted by visiting rugbyclub.com.au/grants before February 15, 2021.