New Investment Secured for Hampshire Clubs

Hampshire RFU joins a new and innovative 18-month pilot project aimed at helping grassroots rugby clubs become more financially resilient and sustainable.

Supported by the RFU, the pilot will see the appointment of a specialist contractor working on behalf of Hampshire RFU to support a cluster of community clubs from across the county. By bringing clubs together to share services, as well as ideas and good practice of successful activities, the initiative will focus on unlocking new revenue opportunities from existing club facilities, such as bars, function rooms, car parks, and pitches – while also identifying cost savings across key operational areas.

Working closely with each participating club, the appointed contractor will provide tailored, hands-on support to explore commercial opportunities and improve operational efficiency.

Steve Grainger, Executive Director of Rugby Development of RFU said:

“Community clubs are the heartbeat of rugby union, and we understand the financial challenges many of them face. This pilot project reflects our commitment to supporting clubs beyond the game itself – helping them become more sustainable, more resilient, and more able to thrive in the years ahead.”

Neil McRoberts, Chair of Hampshire RFU, added:

“This is an exciting moment for Hampshire rugby. Being chosen to join this pilot can be attributed to the hard work we’ve put in over the past year to reposition and restructure our Constituent Body. It’s also proof of our commitment to bringing new ideas and fresh investment into our clubs. We’re proud to be involved and see huge potential for this project to help build stronger, more financially sustainable rugby communities across the county.”

The role of the specialist contractor is currently open for applications. To find out more about the role, view the full scope of work and apply, visit the Hampshire RFU Vacancies Page.

The intended outcome for this role will be to prove its financial worth, with all the learnings used to inform future support models across the rugby landscape.