UK Sport

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
the national lottery
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn
  • About us
    • Our Directors Team
    • Our Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Our partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact us
    • Media centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Talent identification
    • Coaching
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Leadership, development & governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • Curling
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • Para-Rowing
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Annual reports
    • Board minutes
    • British Cycling independent review
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports
    • Privacy policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • Recruitment framework
    • The Whyte Review
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and open data
    • Welsh language scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Jobs in sport
    • Submit a job
  • About us
    • Our Directors Team
    • Our Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Our partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact us
    • Media centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Talent identification
    • Coaching
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Leadership, development & governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • Curling
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • Para-Rowing
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Annual reports
    • Board minutes
    • British Cycling independent review
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports
    • Privacy policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • Recruitment framework
    • The Whyte Review
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and open data
    • Welsh language scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Jobs in sport
    • Submit a job
Press Enter to Search
News

European rugby nations come together in Unity Project

Published 24 January 2014

Yesterday evening at Twickenham Stadium, the Rugby Football Union launched a ground-breaking project in partnership with the International Rugby Board (IRB), FIRA-AER and UK Sport that will involve them working with seventeen European nations to grow the game of rugby ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015.
Called the “Unity Project”, this work forms part of the legacy plans being implemented by the RFU and falls under the wider work of the IRB’s RWC 2015 rugby legacy programme, 'IMPACT beyond 2015.'
The IRB and FIRA-AER selected the seventeen countries for the RFU and its Constituent Bodies (CBs) to work with over the next three years, with the project formally due to finish in June 2016. In order to deliver the project, each of the countries taking part is twinned with two CBs, with non-geographical CBs lending support across the board. The European nations and their allocated CBs will work together to devise and deliver development plans to support the growth of the game. This support could come in the form of helping to train grounds staff and facilities managers, through to working on grassroots coach and player development pathways.
The launch event hosted by RFU Chairman Bill Beaumont was attended by representatives of the IRB, Rugby World Cup Ltd, FIRA-AER, UK Sport, the nations and CBs involved in the project, as well as stakeholders from other sporting bodies and government.
Talking about the RFU’s involvement, Bill Beaumont said: “We are honoured and excited to be working with these seventeen countries on such an interesting and exciting project.
“Through the Unity Project we hope to work with the countries to capitalise on opportunities presented by Rugby World Cup 2015 to build a lasting legacy for rugby across Europe.”
Commenting on their involvement in the project, IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: "IMPACT Beyond 2015 is the most comprehensive and far reaching programme for a Rugby World Cup.
“We are excited to be collaborating with the RFU, FIRA-AER and UK Sport on the Unity Project, a programme that will drive significant playing, administration and development benefits for seventeen European Rugby Unions.
"Rugby World Cup is the financial engine for the global development of the Game and this project underscores our mission of welcoming and sustaining more men, women and children to play and support Rugby worldwide."
Octavian Morariu, FIRA-AER President said: “With interest in rugby constantly growing across Europe, the Unity Project will be highly instrumental in helping us to develop the game event more”.
Rod Carr, Chair of UK Sport, added: “UK Sport is proud to have helped deliver London 2012’s ‘Singapore Vision’ to use the Games to reach young people around the world and inspire them to choose sport.
“It is fantastic to be able to transfer the knowledge and experience gained from International Inspiration to support the delivery of the Unity Project, which will inspire increased community participation in rugby across Europe, building a lasting international legacy for another major sporting event taking place in the UK.”
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
News
five athletes sat on stage in mid disussion
International Relations Seminar 2023
21 March 2023
Eilish crossing the line celebrating with her arms in the air
New research shows British public support athletes speaking out and driving social change
8 March 2023
Female wheelchair basketball player lines up a shot at the hoop.
UK Sport makes first awards from NGB Development Fund to support organisational health
22 February 2023
Sport jobs in the UK
Find & advertise UK based sports jobs here
Read more
Funding Partners
  • DCMS
  • TNL partners
Strategic Partners
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • english institute of sport logo
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • UK Sport editorial policy
  • Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • Website terms
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies policy
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2023