The British and Irish Lions have announced a €3.5m grant to be split between their four rugby unions, ahead of the first British and Irish Lions women's tour.
Royal London, a British insurance and investment firm which launched the initial feasibility study into a women's Lions tour back in 2021, has provided the grant which will be used to invest in female coaches and players in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
The tour, which will take place in 2027, will see current world champions New Zealand hot a three-Test series against the Lions.
The team was established in January, with organisers announcing a tour that will take place in 2027. Current world champions New Zealand will host a three-Test series.
"Supporting the growth of the women's game is a key strategic priority for The British & Irish Lions as it is for each of our constituent Unions," Ben Calveley, CEO of the British and Irish Lions, said in a statement.
"Royal London's 'Levelling the Playing Field' grant represents a significant investment into the women's game in the four unions and will make a positive impact on women's rugby."
The four unions also provided details on how their allocation of the funding will be used.
The Irish Rugby Football Union will use the funds to organise additional under-18 and under-20 camps and training matches.
The Rugby Football Union, England's governing body said it will use the grant to further develop its 'Player Development Groups', while Scottish Rugby will recruit two coaches and deliver additional camps for youth teams.
The Welsh Rugby Union said it would hire five new members to strengthen their women's pathway coaching staff.
"The 'Levelling the Playing Field' grants we are announcing today further demonstrate our commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring we're able to support the development of women's rugby at all levels," Royal London group chief marketing officer Susie Logan said.
Additional reporting: Reuters
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