The RFU (Rugby Football Union) is the national governing body for grassroots and elite rugby in England.
1,900 autonomous rugby clubs are members of the RFU, and each club is grouped into one of 35 Constituent Bodies (CBs), which are comprised of counties, the three armed forces, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the England Schools Rugby Football Union and England Students.
This is supported by the RFU's 50 Rugby Development Officers, eight Regional Development Managers and 150 Community Rugby Coaches who are spread around the country and provide 30,000 coaching sessions for young people every year.
The RFU also employs around 350 paid staff and helps to train and support as many as 40,000 volunteers, who contribute by:
- Organising rugby activity, including the playing, coaching and refereeing of matches and recreational rugby at all levels
- Supporting the volunteer workforce
- Working with clubs to secure grants and loans for facilities
- Fundraising, handling money and insurance
- Offering medical advice and support
- Committee member/trustee
- Secretarial, administration and clerical help
The RFU endeavours to operate to PLC standards but it is neither a company nor a charity. It is registered under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts 1965-78 and is what is known as a Friendly Society, which means it is owned by its member clubs and aims to make a profit to reinvest in rugby union in England.
The RFU's income comes from funding from sponsorship, the government, ticket sales from international matches at Twickenham, hospitality and catering, a travel company and television rights.
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