Rugby League is one of four sports, along with swimming, gymnastics and equestrianism, to be hit by the £1.53 million funding reduction – but Sport England says that the money will now go towards other projects in those same sports rather than going directly to governing bodies like the RFL.
The game suffered a funding cut back in 2011 of almost £1million – again for failing to meet the participation targets set. However, there will still be funds inputted into making the game more accessible.
Sport England cut funding to rugby league by as much as £10.1 million to £17.5 million in the last four-year cycle that was announced back in 2012 but, whilst the RFL’s funding has been cut again, money will still be going towards making rugby league more accessible.
“After failing to meet targets agreed between them and Sport England in 2013/14, £1.53 million has been removed from four governing bodies,” it stated.
“Every penny of the money, a mixture of National Lottery and government funding intended to get more people playing sport, will be reinvested in alternative projects to explore new ways of producing better results in those sports.
“The decisions were taken by Sport England’s board following a detailed analysis of results in the latest Active People Survey, which is the contractual measure agreed with governing bodies to judge.”
