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The important role The National Lottery plays in the growth of Welsh women’s rugby

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A successful World Cup for Wales in New Zealand would see the ‘floodgates’ further opened, and the women and girls’ game ‘explode’ in Wales - that’s according to Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Female Age Grade Lead, Liza Burgess.

Burgess is a former Welsh international, who in 2018 was inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame. In a career spanning three decades, she participated in the Wales Women's first-ever international in 1987, captaining her country 62 times, playing in four World Cups and coaching in two more. 

The former London-based teacher has seen the evolution, increase in interest, and participation in women’s and girls’ rugby in Wales over the years – with National Lottery funding distributed via Sport Wales playing a key role in growth.   

And with the Women’s Rugby World Cup currently taking place in New Zealand – Burgess has opted to celebrate the extraordinary impact of the £30 million plus a week raised by The National Lottery’ players for good causes has had on the development of women and girls’ rugby in Wales over the years - from grassroots to elite.

“The growth now is unbelievable,” said Burgess, reflecting on a momentous year which saw the WRU award 31 female players in Wales with professional contracts for the first time. 

“The floodgates are starting to push wide. And there are more and more opportunities, even commercially as well,” she says. 

“We want to match what the men get and it's great to see how it's evolving. 

“We still have a long way to go but, in terms of how fast it's progressing, and in terms of the amount of coverage we are seeing, it will give encouragement for these young girls to pick up the ball and play the game, it is huge. 

“There are some fantastic role models out there, in terms of players but also the referees. 

“National Lottery funding is multifaceted, starting with facilities and that whole support for the athlete. At community level it’s about the facilities because, being able to provide proper indoor training facilities for athletes is hugely expensive. 

“The National Lottery helps support that. Then in terms of elite, you look more at the support to the athletes, the teams need in terms of science and medicine, strength and conditioning, medical support. 

“All that support comes with the athlete, with the package to get them to that elite level. From that comes facilities to recover with swimming pools, athletes need to recover, and they are funded by The National Lottery. It’s all those things that you don't necessarily think about.” 

A rugby squad of girls in purple and yellow kit show us their wacky poses with their male coach
Funding from the National Lottery has helped Valkyries Rugby enjoy their sport.
We've got an enormous amount of kit and resources available and that comes from funding, that comes from the funding that we've had from The National Lottery
Keith Pritchard, West Swansea Hawks

During the Women’s Rugby Union World Cup in New Zealand, The National Lottery is highlighting how its players have contributed more than £94.6 million to support over 3,200 grassroots rugby union projects in the UK since 1994, including vital support to hundreds of projects that develop women and girl’s rugby in each nation.

This includes funding to the national governing bodies of Rugby Union in England (RFU), Scotland (SRU) and Wales (WRU) to enhance the provision of rugby for women and girls, ensuring the game develops a pathway from grassroots to elite level and nurtures talent for their national teams.

Burgess, in her role with the WRU, is seeing first-hand the strides that are being made in driving the women’s game forward in Wales.  

“I'm the lead coach for the under-20s and under-18s, and we're basically re-establishing the pathway,” she added. “We don't know how many girls are out there, so we're literally starting from a white piece of paper if you like, and we had over 150 girls that applied for the under-20s identification process. 

“And then from that we've whittled it down. It's an incredibly exciting time to be involved. Some of these players will play in the 2025 World Cup, that's the reality. To see what we've got coming in now is hugely exciting. It's a privilege to be part of, it’s exciting. My head's buzzing all the time.

“This is going to be the best World Cup in terms of coverage, support, and exposure. It's just incredible.”

In addition to the funding it awards the WRU to support the growth of the women’s game in Wales, National Lottery funding distributor, Sport Wales, has also awarded funds to thousands of rugby clubs throughout the nation over the years to help them develop and grow women’s teams, and encourage female participation. This included providing vital emergency funds for many clubs during the pandemic to help keep them afloat.  

Some of the projects include Tenby United RFC and their partnership with South Pembrokeshire Sharks Girls Rugby in southwest Wales; West Swansea Hawks, Ceirw Nant in Conwy and Wrexham’s Valkyries Rugby Cluster in the north; and Torfaen Arrows Rugby in Pontypool in southeast Wales. 

West Swansea Hawks received over one thousand pounds of National Lottery funding and hub leader Keith Pritchard was thrilled with the difference the cash injection has made. 

“The funding helps in so many different ways,” said Pritchard. “We’ve wanted to make West Swansea Hawks a really attractive brand, in terms of facility, kit, training kit, in terms of tackle bags.  

“I've been around rugby since the age of six and looking at what we have and the way we've set ourselves up in terms of equipment, it's comparable to Welsh Premiership sides.  

“We've got an enormous amount of kit and resources available and that comes from funding, that comes from the funding that we've had from The National Lottery along with some great sponsorship from local businesses.” 

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk

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