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12 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2015More than one million children were introduced to rugby in 2015 through World Rugby’s mass-participation programme Get Into Rugby and there are now 7.73 million rugby players in the federation’s member unions, an all-time record.The new participants via Get Into Rugby were spread across 2,000 locations in 129 unions, with 22,300 trained personnel delivering the various rugby activities in all six regional associations. Importantly, 37 per cent of the new participants are female, demonstrating rugby’s commitment to grow the game for both genders.This growth is in part the result of record investment in the development of the game by World Rugby, which has injected approximately £150 million into the BELOWGet Into Rugby programmes spanned six regional associations and 129 unions in 2015game during the period 2012-15. World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Our sport is reaching and inspiring new participants and audiences in record numbers. Nowhere is this more keenly felt than in our own Get Into Rugby programmes, run in partnership with regional associations and member unions across all six continents.“Rugby is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world, especially among women and girls, and no doubt many of those new participants were inspired to take part due to the amazing feats of athleticism, skill and character shown by the 20 teams at Rugby World Cup 2015.“Our record levels of investment are driven by the strength of the Rugby World Cup brand as one of the world’s most successful, best-loved and largest major sporting events, popular with players, fans, broadcasters and commercial partners alike. As the source of 90 per cent of World Rugby’s revenues, it delivers the long-term financial platform to develop and grow the game around the world.”World Rugby’s funding programme includes an increased commitment to player welfare, anti-doping and integrity programmes, men’s and women’s sevens and 15s competitions (including Olympic Games qualification) and development initiatives, including the Get Into Rugby programme.In addition, more than 400 events were organised during the tournament as part of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Impact Beyond legacy programme.While Rugby World Cup 2015 was inspiring new audiences in record levels, World Rugby was also ensuring that the future of the grassroots end of the game was guaranteed.GROWING THE GAME ACROSS THE WORLDevents organised as part of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Impact Beyond legacy programme400ENGAGING THE RUGBY FAMILY | NEWS