Grassroots rugby in England is to land a £50M ($75.5M) World Cup windfall with the Rugby Football Union "poised to invest in 100 artificial pitches across the country in a bid to boost participation in the club game," according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. The "ambitious plan, which is thought to be the biggest single investment" in the grassroots game by the governing body, is "designed to reinvigorate the club game, which has been struggling to retain players, as part of the World Cup legacy." The move follows the decision by the FA to invest £260M ($393M) to build 600 all-weather 3G pitches and create 150 football hubs over the next four years. Details of the RFU’s plans will be presented to the governing body’s council in their meeting at Twickenham on Friday "but it is understood to have already been agreed by the management board, with the proposal already in an advanced stage." The details of the location of the pitches have "yet to be clarified, but it is thought that clubs will be able to apply to have one laid" and must first meet "a number of strict criteria and own the freehold or at least a long-term leasehold on the land." A management company "is likely to be formed to manage the pitches across the country," at a cost of up to £500,000 ($755,400) per annum, with the investment in each pitch costing up to £850,000 ($1.28B) (TELEGRAPH, 12/3).
