# RFL backs Wilkin’s £30m funding plea to Burnham

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rfl-backs-wilkins-30m-funding-plea-to-burnham/
- Published: 2026-11-03T14:48:52+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T01:18:24+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cqn06nk1rx4xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Football, Government, Politics, Sport, UK, World

## Key points

- Ian Nolan supports Wilkin’s £30m community funding proposal.
- The plan would run for five years in northern England.
- Government says £15.7m is already committed to rugby league through 2029.

## Summary

Rugby Football League chief executive Ian Nolan has backed former England player Jon Wilkin’s proposal for a £30m, five-year government-funded social impact programme in northern England. Wilkin says rugby league clubs could help improve opportunities in disadvantaged communities, and wants the plan to bring together clubs, community foundations, councils and government departments.

He points to Australia’s A$250m (£130m) Pacific Rugby League Partnership, announced for a 10-year period, as an example of investment in sport-led community development. The UK government says it has committed £15.7m to rugby league through Sport England up to 2029 and is investing £400m in grassroots sports facilities. The appeal comes after England’s men’s and women’s teams both exited the Rugby League World Cup at the group stage.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.