Defender today announces the Defender Breakthrough Bursary to help keep young rugby players in the sport at a time of financial strain.
Run in partnership with England Rugby (RFU), the bursary supports players in the under‑16 to under‑18 age group within PREM Rugby Academies and girls in the RFU Player Development Groups – where training intensifies, travel increases and associated costs rise. By easing these pressures, the bursary aims to keep more talented young people on the pathway to a rugby career, particularly those who might otherwise step away from the sport.
Defender’s involvement in rugby spans grassroots to elite levels, aiming to drive progress and inclusivity. By supporting the RFU’s ‘Plan 2030: More Than A Game’ strategy, Defender is committed to helping the next generation of rugby talent. The plan’s goal is to create consistently winning England teams with world‑class training and coaching for all players.
The bursary is a response to research showing that a third of female pathway players (34%) find participation hard due to cost, while 38% cite family working patterns as a barrier. Many young players report increased travel, equipment and nutrition needs as ongoing challenges.
A NEW SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
Launching for the 2026/27 season, and championed by Defender Ambassadors Maro Itoje and Ellie Kildunne, the Defender Breakthrough Bursary will provide £20,000 in its first year, supporting up to 20 players and is open to all eligible athletes.
Funding will cover essential costs including travel, food and nutrition, and equipment, giving players the practical support required to stay committed to the sport they love.
Rugby gave me my sense of identity, but staying in the sport at a young age isn’t always easy. Travel costs, kit, nutrition – it all adds up, and it can put huge pressure on families. This bursary tells young players, especially girls, that they are seen, valued, and deserve the chance to push for their breakthrough moment.
Ellie Kildunne
Red Roses World Cup winner and Defender Ambassador
Applications will be submitted via Academy and Player Development Group leads and will be live later this summer. A selection panel of representatives from Defender, the RFU and former players will review submissions.
Defender and the RFU are teaming up to help remove one of the biggest barriers for young female players – the cost of staying in the game. Affordability is pushing girls out of rugby, and the Defender Breakthrough Bursary is here to change that. With £20,000 of support in its first year, the programme will help up to 20 players stay on their pathway in 26/27.
Rugby and Defender share values of integrity, courage, pride, composure, capability that are required to create great competitive sport and a world‑class all‑terrain vehicle. Defender celebrates those who embrace life’s challenges.
Leonie Raistrick
Director, Defender (UK)
SUPPORTING THE WIDER TALENT PATHWAY
The bursary aligns with the RFU’s long‑term ambition to strengthen participation and retention in the women’s and girls’ pathway, ensuring more young players can keep playing at a time when they are most vulnerable to dropping out.
The Defender Breakthrough Bursary directly supports our ambition to strengthen our pathways, particularly for women and girls. By addressing affordability – one of the clearest barriers identified in the research – this programme will enable more talented young players to stay in the game.
Alex Teasdale
Executive Director of Women’s Game at the RFU
A CONTINUING COMMITMENT FROM DEFENDER
The bursary builds on Defender’s long‑standing commitment to rugby and partnership with England Rugby, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to impact‑led investment in youth sport. Through grassroots activity, ambassador expertise and financial support, Defender aims to help the next generation of players progress based on their passion and potential, not their postcode or income.