Increased Investment in Club and School Rugby – Funding Update

These changes reflect our continued commitment to supporting clubs and schools across Scotland and recognise the vital role they play in delivering rugby in their communities.

2025/26 Season – Enhanced Travel Funding

For the season that has just concluded, Scottish Rugby has approved additional investment into the Travel Framework, providing increased support for clubs and schools for away fixtures already undertaken.

A new travel band has been introduced for return journeys between 49.9 and 99.9 miles, meaning more fixtures from the 2025/26 season now qualify for travel support. All existing travel bands have also received a one-off increase.

Exceptional payments will also be made to clubs who face unique travel challenges, including rural and island clubs that regularly undertake significant journeys to fulfil fixtures.

As a result of these enhancements, Scottish Rugby will have invested over £1.2 million in travel support during the 2025/26 season, which will help reduce the financial burden of participation across the country.

Travel funding payments for the 2025/26 season were made to clubs at the end of May 2026. The additional funding resulting from these enhanced travel support measures will now be paid retrospectively, with further payments being made directly to clubs by the end of June 2026.

Looking Ahead to the 2026/27 Season

The full Club Investment Fund for 2026/27 will be published at the end of July. In advance of this, we wanted to provide an overview of some of the key improvements and investment commitments for next season.

Increased Team Participation Funding

Team Participation Funding will increase to £850 per team across Adult, Youth and Mini Rugby.

This represents a continued increase from the £500 per team provided in 2024/25, and £750 per team in 2025/26, further strengthening direct investment in club rugby and supporting clubs to grow and sustain participation.

Player Improvement funding for the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership, National League Division 1 and Women’s Premiership will remain at 2025/26 levels.

The introduction of the Women’s National League will also see those teams receive the same Player Improvement investment currently provided to Men’s National League Division 1 teams.

Travel Framework

The newly introduced travel band for journeys between 49.9 and 99.9 miles will remain in place for 2026/27, with clubs receiving £175 per journey made at that distance.

This means that any eligible fixture requiring a return journey of more than 49.9 miles will continue to receive travel funding.

Record Levels of Direct Club Investment

Direct funding to clubs and schools has increased significantly in recent years and will reach approximately £5.6 million in 2026/27.

This continued growth reflects Scottish Rugby’s commitment to investing in clubs and schools, supporting participation, player development and the long-term sustainability of the game throughout Scotland.

Further details of the 2026/27 Club Investment Fund will be shared with clubs at the end of July.