Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club received a large boost in funding when the Rugby Union announced the Impact25 programme. This in mind, the club hopes the funding will help them to build upon their women’s sector this year.
The Impact25 programme was launched in 2025 by the England Rugby Union in combination with Sport England, the Uk Government and Uk Sport.
This money has helped the club to prepare for the next women’s season, with the introduction of a second women’s team for next year.
£14.5 million of government funding was committed last year to over 300 clubs with the backdrop of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The club celebrated its 60th anniversary this year and plan to host some events to celebrate this.
Director of rugby for the club, Mark Johnson said: “We knew there was a grant available due to the application process starting in January. In May, we were notified that we had been approved for it. Planning for this fund started off in the summer.”
On the improvement in relationship between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the club, Johnson said: “It has definitely improved local rugby and women’s rugby in the local area specifically.”
Funding will help the club to cover costs for long away trips for games on the Isle of Wight, despite this not covering the full cost of travel to the island.
As a volunteer, Johnson is integral to the club as he gives up his free time to support his passion within rugby.
The club, however, did not receive any increases in funding from the RFU despite promotion for the men’s senior team.
Chairman Ian Marshall has been involved with the club in 50 years and the funding at the club has been a pivotal moment for him at the club.
He is the chairman and also the manager for the first team. Without the funding from the RFU, he said: “We wouldn’t have been able to manage it financially without this funding. We live on a shoestring budget.”
He added: “It’s attracted more people to the club and we now have more youngsters at the club.”
New renovations are also expected with the clubhouse receiving new updates.
Not just this, the bar at the clubhouse for both women’s and men’s game is getting more and more busy.
Despite no victories for the men’s senior team so far, Ellingham and Ringwood will hope the future looks bright and they continue to get people visiting the games.
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