What does a home Women's Rugby World Cup mean for the North East?

In this virtual NECC Business Briefing, we will be joined by Steve Grainger MBE, Executive Director of Rugby Development, of the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Women's rugby, indeed women's sport, has come along way since the first Women's Rugby World Cup in 1991, when a group of players organised the entire tournament without the sport's governing body's approval.

With the now official Women's Rugby Union World Cup running from 22nd August to 27th September in England, it promises to be an intruiging summer, with the world's best women's teams heading for British shores.

It also promises to be an important 'date in the diary' for the North East, with the opening game being held at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland on 22nd August, with England hosting the USA.

I am sure we are all willing for a "home nations" World Cup win, but in this briefing, we will be talking about all things rugby related:

• What does it mean for women's sport in the North East having the opening game in Sunderland?
• What is the wider impact of hosting a World Cup in the UK?
• How do we continue to build engagement in rugby, right across the North East?
• How can the business community engage and support?

We will be joined by Steve Grainger, MBE.

Steve joined the RFU in 2011 from his CEO position with the Youth Sport Trust (YST). A leading expert in sport development, he had huge success in building the YST into a vital part of the sport infrastructure over his six years as Chief Executive.

Overall, he had 16 years’ experience working with a range of national governing bodies at the YST and prior to that spent three years at the National Coaching Foundation, having started his career in sports development and management in Mansfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.

In 2007, he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to school sports.

Steve’s role at the RFU has responsibility for all grassroots rugby development, ensuring that the nation’s clubs, colleges, universities and schools have the capacity and capabilities to help grow rugby.

He oversees the club and Constituent Body services team as well as the RFU’s school and university programmes. He also leads the RFU’s volunteer programme and the hugely successful Facilities and Funding programme.

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