Rugby Australia welcomes the Australian Sports Commission’s historic $385 million investment into 70 sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games via the Win Well and Play Well programs.
Under the groundbreaking funding initiative - which builds upon highly successful high performance (Win Well) and participation (Play Well) strategies – the ASC has provided sports, including Rugby, with support at all levels from “playground to podium”.
Rugby will receive a total of $9,834,000 from the ASC over the next 18 months, of which $9,130,000 has been awarded via the Win Well program. That represents a 34% annualised funding increase from the allocation leading into the Paris Olympics.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive Phil Waugh said the ASC’s funding commitment ahead of the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games would play a vital role in strengthening Australian Rugby at the elite and community levels.
“Rugby Australia is sincerely grateful to Anika Wells, the Federal Minister for Sport, and Kieren Perkins, the Chief Executive of the Australian Sports Commission, for their ongoing support and recognition of the important role Rugby plays in Australian society,” Waugh said.
“The substantial funding increase via the Win Well program will build on the success of Australia’s Rugby teams on the world stage and the Play Well commitment will ensure Rugby’s vibrant community programs continue to grow and welcome more participants.”
Rugby Australia Chair Daniel Herbert said the ASC’s investment would help Australian teams inspire the nation on the global stage and unite communities at the local level.
“When our Australian women’s Sevens team won gold in Rio, it uplifted the country and motivated a generation of young athletes to take up Rugby in Australia,” Herbert said.
“That’s the power of our great game: to create moments of joy and bring people together on the world’s great sporting stages as well as the local footy field.
“The opportunity to make more enduring, emotional connections with Australians at Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032 is incredibly exciting. On behalf of everyone at Rugby Australia, I would like to thank Anika Wells, the Federal Minister for Sport, and Kieren Perkins, the Chief Executive of the Australian Sports Commission, for their strong backing of Rugby and recognition of its positive impact.”
Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells, said:
“This is a record funding package for Australian sport, so they can take full advantage of the generational opportunity between now and Brisbane 2032.
“Our record $385 million investment in high performance sport over the next 18 months, which includes a doubling of investment in Para sport, will enable our athletes to win well on the road to Los Angeles while also encouraging more Australians to play sport.
“We are creating more opportunities for more athletes by increasing the number of sports we support from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs.
“It’s important that our kids and community sporting champions experience the same level of opportunity and I welcome the Play Well funding goal to create a safe, fair and sustainable sport system that grows participation and nurtures tomorrow’s champions.”
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins said:
“The remaining eight years until Brisbane 2032 is our chance to unite and inspire Australia through sport.
“The Play Well and Win Well funding announced today lays the foundation to do just that. We will be supporting more Australians to enjoy their sport than ever before, from those in grassroots to our Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes making us proud on the world stage.
“I would like to thank the Australian Government for their vision and ongoing support to allow all Australians to both play well and win well.”
