Page 7 - Unity Project

About The Unity Project

Stage one Country Constituent Body

When England was chosen to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup both the RFU and Nations Selected
World Rugby felt strongly that plans had to be put in place to ensure that the 17 nations selected by World Rugby Belgium Eastern Counties, NLD
tournament had a legacy for the sport across the continent. More than this, as (Sweden, Denmark and Norway were grouped together)
subscribers to the solidarity principle (the idea that nations should work together to Croatia Leicestershire, Warwickshire
develop their sport on a global basis) the RFU set out to ensure that the tournament Stage two Czech Republic North Midlands, Sta ordshire
would have an impact across Europe. Partnering
Each nation was partnered with two of the RFU’s Georgia Kent, Essex
“ UK Sport is proud to have supported the development of the Unity Project, which demonstrates Constituent Bodies (CBs) to work together for the duration Germany Hertfordshire, Hampshire

the opportunity and impact of linking international development work with major sports events. of the project Hungary East Midlands, Cambridge University

We know that the hosting of world class events supports our athletes performance ambitions, Stage three
provides a unique platform to inspire participation and allows sport to contribute towards the Scoping Visits to 15 Nations Netherlands Cornwall, Devon

economic growth agenda. Additionally, Unity has provided a platform to grow and develop the A combination of CBs, RFU and UK Sport representatives Poland Surrey, Sussex

sport of rugby and strengthen relationships with international and national federations. We look visited each nation to learn about rugby and agree on three Portugal Cheshire, Lancashire
or four focus areas for the project
forward to seeing the future developments that build on this fantastic work.” Romania Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire

LIZ NICHOLL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE UK SPORT Stage four
Inward Study Visits Russia Berkshire, Middlesex
A Rugby World Cup host had never before embarked on a multi-national legacy project and Representatives from each nation visited their respective Serbia Buckinghamshire, Oxford University
consequently UK Sport, World Rugby and Rugby Europe came on board as project partners to CBs to learn and discuss more about the focus areas and
help guide the RFU through the project planning and implementation phases. UK Sport had jointly draft a development plan Spain Durham, Northumberland
recently delivered the London 2012 Olympics legacy project, International Inspiration, a large scale
international sport through development initiative and was a key advisor and funder of the Unity Stage five Sweden/Denmark/Norway Cumbria, Yorkshire
Project. World Rugby and Rugby Europe both had invaluable knowledge of the countries involved Delivery
and World Rugby selected the 17 Unions that took part in the Unity Project. Partnerships then had two years to deliver what had been Switzerland Dorset & Wiltshire, Somerset

agreed in their development plans