Keswick RFC were selected to receive £10,000 as one of four community clubs across the UK and Ireland recognised for their efforts to promote the women’s and girls’ gameJoseph Terry21:24, 28 Aug 2026Keswick RFC hope a grant from Royal London and The British & Irish Lions will propel their women’s and girls’ section from strength to strength.‌The Cumbrian club were selected to receive £10,000 as one of four community clubs across the UK and Ireland recognised for their efforts to promote the women’s and girls’ game.‌Keswick RFC’s commitment to the area has seen the club promote playing sides across contact and touch rugby, while also creating space for women and girls to become coaches and referees.‌Leanne Grave, 48, is a representative for the women’s and girls’ section at Davidson Park, in the heart of the Lake District.Speaking days before the Keswick Half Marathon, which the club organises, Grave is proud of the club’s success building community spirit through sport.“I’m proud that we can keep players and keep women and girls smiling,” Grave said. “We’ve managed to keep girls playing throughout and connect the teams together, so when the girls feel ready to move up, they’re blended.‌“We do the same thing up to the women’s section from the under-18s, with social events so everyone gets used to being around each other. We have a one club atmosphere.“We are a very strong community club. Events at the club don’t only bring the community together but also raise money for the club. We work with charities and groups to run events, so hopefully more women and girls come to Keswick RFC.”‌Royal London, the UK’s largest customer-owned pensions, protection and investment company has announced the latest winners of its Championing Women & Girls’ Rugby Award, in partnership with The British & Irish Lions, with four more clubs across the Home Unions getting an equal share of the £40k fund for 2026. The grants demonstrate Royal London's commitment as Founding Partner of the first Lions Women’s Team to invest in grassroots rugby and support the next generation of future Lions Women’s players.The Championing Women & Girls’ Rugby Award, now in its third year, will provide funding to; Keswick RFC (England), Fethard & District RFC (Ireland), Caithness RFC (Scotland) and Clwb Rygbi Y Bala (Wales), who each receive a trophy and a £10k grant to invest in their rugby programmes.The Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award goes to a club in each Home Union that has broken down barriers for women’s and girls’ rugby through inclusion policies, community outreach and a desire to bring more women and girls into the game. Each of the awarded clubs have impressive programmes to grow their footprint and opportunities for women and girls to play in their local area.‌Shaunagh Brown, Rugby Ambassador for Royal London and award judge, hailed Keswick for their trailblazing efforts and hopes the injection of funding can help catapult the club to even greater heights.She said: “What really stood out to me about Keswick RFC was the way they’ve embedded themselves in their wider community, from working with the local WI to their beer festival and half marathon, while building a brilliant pathway for women and girls from U6s all the way through to 1st XV rugby.“Strong numbers, female coaches, female referees and a real sense that this isn’t just about getting girls into rugby but keeping them there and giving them somewhere to belong makes them deserving winners for this year’s award.Article continues below“Now they’re looking to convert a squash court into an indoor training facility for performance and strength and conditioning’, and the £10k funding is going to play a huge part in making that happen. This is exactly what grassroots rugby should be about: community, opportunity and creating pathways that actually last. Huge congratulations, Keswick. Go and build something brilliant.”