A three-year programme by the RFU to improve spectator safety at the top 26 rugby clubs in England has made significant progress in its first year.

The programme, part of Sport England's Safer Sports Grounds (SSG) Programme and managed by the PMP Consultancy, enables clubs that are playing in the Zurich Premiership or National Division One to access funding to assist with improvements in spectator safety at their ground. During the first year of the programme (2001) there was a 100% success rate with applications, securing over £750,000 of lottery funding.

11 different clubs have received lottery funding during 2001 towards 12 projects, contributing to a total project cost of £1,532,261. Northampton Saints have received the largest SSG lottery award to date - £174,133, which part-funded a number of safety elements and disabled provisions within the re-development of Franklin's Gardens. Worcester RFC are the first club to receive two grant awards for separate schemes including improvements to their PA system and driveway lighting.

Terry Burwell, RFU Community Rugby and Operations Director believes, "The SSG programme has provided an invaluable source of grant aid which will help to bring our high profile stadia into the 21st Century in terms of spectator safety. There is currently more emphasis than ever before on the need to provide high quality spectator facilities as we strive to compete with a variety of other sports in attracting the wider community to the game, especially women, children and disabled people."

Allan Robson, Commercial Director, Northampton Saints said, "For rugby to continue to move forward as a spectator sport we cannot allow there to be any safety issues within the game. Sport England's Safer Sports Grounds programme is absolutely superb for rugby union as a whole and more particularly, for Northampton Saints. Our plans to make Franklin's Gardens the best and safest club rugby ground in the country received a massive boost with a grant of over £174,000 for the first two phases of our stadium development which are now complete and are being enjoyed by an average crowd of almost 10,000 every game."

Seven of the grants have been awarded to Zurich Premiership Clubs and five to National Division One clubs. The funding helps improve all aspects of ground safety and facilities including first aid rooms and equipment, toilet facilities, stand renovations as well as improving disabled access at several of the clubs.

Five clubs currently competing in the Zurich Premiership and National Division One are not eligible for funding as they do not currently meet the scheme criteria set by Sport England. Bristol Shoguns and Moseley do not qualify as they have leases of less than 10 years, whilst London Irish, London Wasps and Saracens share their grounds with football clubs.

The RFU's SSG programme has been one of the most successful to date compared with the two other sports eligible under the scheme - rugby league (which has achieved two successful applications) and cricket (which has achieved five).

A further eight projects are already in line for submission over the coming weeks and the scheme is on target to reach the £800,000 funding target for next year (set by Sport England).

The RFU and the clubs are committed to improving safety standards and facilities at grounds at a time when attendances across the Zurich Premiership have increased by over 30%. The next two years of the scheme will enable the clubs to further improve their grounds ensuring spectators enjoy the benefits for years to come.