17 August 2022

Lacrosse legacy programme launched in Surrey as 3,500 girls compete in the finals of the Rathbones National Schools Lacrosse Championships.

  • Announcement comes as largest lacrosse tournament in the UK kicks off in Surrey
  • Lacrosse has seen a spike in participation levels over the past six years
  • England will play host to the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup

Over 3,500 girls from schools across the UK are taking part in the Rathbones National Schools Lacrosse Championships (RNSLC) this weekend, marking the launch of English Lacrosse’s World Cup legacy programme in collaboration with Sport England, the University of Surrey and Rathbone Investment Management.

The partnership will invest a total of £125,000 into community lacrosse in Surrey over the next 24 months, aiming to raise the profile of, and increase access to, the sport in anticipation of the legacy created by the upcoming 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup. The initiative will not only focus on those wanting to play lacrosse but also inspire the next generation of coaches, officials and volunteers.

This weekend’s four day tournament will see 201 teams compete in Guildford, Surrey, in the premier lacrosse event in the British schools calendar and the largest lacrosse competition in the country.  

This is the fourth year of partnership between English Lacrosse and Rathbones, with the continued support not only improving the national competition but also the fundamental development of the sport. Over 2,500 new players in schools and communities who would not normally have the opportunity to learn Lacrosse, have been introduced through the Rathbones Community Expansion Programme.

Membership of English Lacrosse has risen by 68% in the last 6 years to over 30,000, highlighting an increase in the sport’s popularity and participation levels among junior girls as a result. Not only that, there are currently over 200,000 people participating in the game annually in the UK, with 69 Women’s and Girls club teams and more than 70 schools.

Philip Howell, Chief Executive, Rathbones commented: “Events like this truly showcase the effectiveness of our ongoing work with English Lacrosse and we’re looking forward to getting the legacy programme fully underway. We firmly believe that participation in sport equips players with essential skills such as teamwork, commitment and respect – characteristics which will benefit these girls both on and off the pitch.”

Mark Coups, CEO, English Lacrosse, commented: “This legacy programme is hugely important for us. One of our key aims is to increase participation in lacrosse across England, bringing the game to new groups and new regions. Today’s event and our achievements to date act as a great starting point to launch the programme with Rathbones, and we’re looking forward to continuing our work in raising the profile of the sport over the next 24 months.”