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Representing 36 per cent of the 2016 annual budget, World Rugby’s four key game investment programmes helped produced significant investment highlights in 2016, including Olympic preparation support for emerging women’s teams and increased medical and player welfare research.GAME INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES IN 2016As a major part of our annual rugby operations, which also includes implementing a suite of international tournaments, World Rugby’s four key game investment programmes – high performance, development, training and education and regional competitions – provide for the future of the game. Each programme has an investment application element targeting specific member organisations (from the 103 full member unions and six regional associations), who apply annually for an allocation of funding to implement in-country or in-region initiatives, and an element of centralised programme operations. Game Investment Programmes Budget 2016ProgrammeOrganisations invested in 2016 Investments (£m)2016 Operations (£m)2016Total Budget (£m)High Performance20 tier one and two unions/four emerging unions (note investment also in tournaments programme) 6.6 0.7 7.3 Development103 full member unions/six regional associations 8.3 0.6 8.9 Training and Education103 full member unions/six regional associations (note investments are allocated under development programme) - 3.0 3.0 Regional CompetitionsSix regional associations only 3.8 - 3.8 Totals 18.8 4.2 23.0 Member Unions Banding Categorisation 2016BandingUnions1. High Performance Tier 110 unions: Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales2. High Performance Tier 210 unions: Canada, Fiji, Georgia, Japan, Namibia, Romania, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, USA3. Performance 14 unions: Chile, Portugal, Russia, Spain4. Performance 28 unions: Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Tunisia, Zimbabwe5. Development 115 unions6. Development 228 unions7. Development 328 unionsUnion bandingThe level of investment available to a full member union is dependent on their banding categorisation, which is reviewed annually according to a range of set criteria. There are seven bands – two high performance bands are filled by the RWC 2015 participating nations, while two performance and three development bands are filled by the other 83 unions.98 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2016FINANCING | GAME INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES