Lancaster women’s rugby club given £10,000 grant boost

A local women’s rugby union club has announced it has been awarded a five-figure sum courtesy of a major body and sponsor in the sport.

Lancaster Lionesses has secured a £10,000 grant from Royal London and The British & Irish Lions through the Championship Women’s and Girls’ Rugby Award.

This prestigious award celebrates the club’s commitment to building a sustainable pathway for women and girls to play rugby union in Lancaster, and the surrounding area, and provides vital support to growing the club’s impact in women’s rugby.

The award is a key element of life, pensions and investment company Royal London’s sponsorship as Founding Partner of the first ever British & Irish Lions women’s team. 

Lancaster Lionesses were chosen as the winning club for the award in England, while one club in the other home unions - Ireland, Scotland and Wales - will also receive the grant. 

Alongside the grassroots award, the Royal London sponsorship includes a ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ investment of £3 million, which is designed to inspire more women and girls to participate in rugby and to foster equality and opportunity at every level of the game.

Lancaster Lionesses were founded in May 2023 as the UK’s first and only women’s specific community rugby club, and they have risen through the divisions since then.

They secured back-to-back promotions having started out in NC 3 North in 2023 and they are now competing in NC 1 North.

The Lionesses play their home games at Lancaster University and have been in constant and close collaboration with the university’s rugby team from the very start to put women and girls at the centre of their club.

As a team, they are active in volunteering across towns and villages in Lancashire, building community connections.

Recently, the club has turned its focus to girls and teenagers, planning youth rugby camps and forming relationships with schools and after-school clubs. 

Lancaster Lionesses are set to expand its minis, juniors, and girls’ rugby pathways as a result of the grant, as well as increase community engagement and outreach, making rugby accessible to more women and girls to create long-term opportunities across the region.

Kayla Heglas, Chairperson of Lancaster Lionesses, said: “On behalf of our club, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for this incredible grant. 

“As a women’s-only club, we were founded to put women and girls at the centre of rugby from the very beginning, and this support allows us to take a major step forward in that mission.  

“This funding will help us grow our community presence, reach more women who may never have considered rugby before, and remove financial barriers so the sport can be accessible. 

“It will also enable us to establish a Lionesses girls’ rugby pathway. 

“This investment doesn’t just strengthen our club; it creates long-term opportunities for women and girls across the region.

“We are deeply grateful and excited for what this allows us to build.” 

Susie Logan, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Royal London, said: “As Founding Partner of The British & Irish Lions Women’s Team, we’re proud to continue to work with the Lions on our Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award.  

“The decision of which club to award in each of the unions is getting more difficult as there are so many amazing applications. 

“The amount of work, time and effort being put in across women’s and girls’ rugby clubs by coaches, players, parents and club volunteers is phenomenal. 

“We are committed to nurturing sporting talent that will shape the future of women’s rugby, and I can’t wait to see what the winning clubs will do with the funds to make a difference to their players and their communities.”

Lancaster Lionesses currently occupy fifth place in the NC 1 North, winning two and losing two of their four games so far in a seven-team league. 

Their next game is at home to Harrogate Women on Sunday, January 11 at 2pm.