Support for women’s rugby has never been greater, and it’s no surprise that it’s the fastest growing female sport in the world. Since Katy McLean led the team out in Paris in 2014, defeating Canada 21-9 to bring home the silverware for The Red Roses, we’ve all been hooked and converted.
The Power of Dreams
Since 2001 Honda has embraced ‘the Power of Dreams’ philosophy, and now it’s the chance of girls’ and women’s rugby union teams across the UK to bring their dreams to reality. Honda is proud to champion women’s rugby and is once again partnering with Telegraph Media Group to create the Rugby Legacy Fund, helping girls’ and women’s grassroots rugby clubs to achieve their ambitions.
For 2025, the fund will support 15 more girls’ and women’s clubs in the UK to help them achieve their goals and kick-start their dreams. With the help of an expert judging panel, the 15 worthy clubs will receive grants of £1,000 - £3,000 to be used to invest in their clubs. The judging panel will review the applications and make their decisions based on which club is the most deserving, and would benefit the most from the fund, giving women and girls in the local community the opportunity to become involved with rugby.
5 x £3,000 awards
10 x £1,000 awards
Tackling the tough decisions
This year the judging panel will be headed up by former England international, Maggie Alphonsi, who has been a trailblazer for women’s rugby. The 74 England capped openside flanker has been a formidable commentator, speaker and advocate for the sport since her retirement in 2014, championing diversity and inclusion. She will be joined by Fiona Tomas, renowned sports journalist and women’s sports writer for the Telegraph, who was recognised for her contributions to sports journalism by appearing on the BBC Women's Hour Power List in 2023.
Head of Automobile at Honda Motor Europe (UK), Rebecca Adamson, joins the panel with a passion for supporting community engagement. The panel will be complemented by international sports commentator Nick Heath, who is a dedicated advocate for inclusivity and diversity in rugby.
Who can apply
Telegraph Media Group Honda Rugby Legacy Fund is open to any rugby union club. (excluding schools) which offers women’s or girls’ rugby. The person applying must be directly involved with the club as a member, secretary or coach etc and must be over 18. Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Visit the Rugby Legacy Fund page on The Telegraph website
How to enter
Entry is simple, just visit theTelegraph Media Group Honda Rugby Legacy Fund page (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/powering-england-rugby/legacy-fund-form/) and answer in 300 words or less how the funding will make a difference to your club. Hurry though, applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 4th May 2025.*
Previous Legacy Fund winners
One of beneficiaries of the 2022 fund was Eton Manor RFC in Wanstead which received £2,000. The money helped them expand the girls’ section at the club, by sending professional female coaches into the local high school and holding U12 girls rugby festivals, plugging the gap where Year 7 girls start to drop out of sport, an area identified by the club as being key.
"The impact of winning the prize money has been huge. It has meant we can send coaches into our local high school to offer rugby training to girls – and have also held after-school club sessions to aid what can often be an intimidating journey from school rugby to club rugby.”
The Power of Dreams XV
Rugby is full of inspiring stories and as part of our partnership with the Telegraph we’ve compiled our own Power of Dreams XV, made up of passionate rugby enthusiasts whose love of rugby and ability to dream big has rewarded them. From grassroots to the country’s finest, the UK is abundant with people whose lives have been changed by the power of rugby, and we’ve gathered some of their stories for you to enjoy. With tales from the likes of England’s most-capped players Ben Youngs and Sarah Hunter, women’s rugby pioneer Deborah Griffin, England captains Zoe Aldcroft and Maro Itoje, and former international referee Nigel Owens, get ready to be inspired!
So, what are you waiting for? Apply today and your rugby union club could be our next inspiring story, growing women’s and girls’ sections in community rugby clubs across the UK, thanks to Telegraph Media Group Honda Rugby Legacy Fund.
Click here to apply
Photos by Philip Haynes
