England welcome 33,000 new players

English rugby has welcomed 33,098 new players since England's victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Figures released by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) reveal a 16 percent growth across all age groups, taking the total playing club rugby to more than 230,000.

Based on a sample of 1,079 clubs, an additional 8,488 adults have taken up the sport, with 9,317 more in the Under-12 to Under-8 sector.

The biggest increase comes in the Under-7 to Under-11 age range, with an additional 15,293 players - a 32 percent growth.

And with 500 clubs reporting at least one extra team as well as new clubs forming, the RFU's IMPACT strategy for increasing participation is bearing fruit at grassroots level.

As well as players, an additional 3135 coaches and 783 referees have been recruited in the last 12 months, bringing the totals to 22,469 and 6,060 active in the game respectively.

The number of volunteers has also risen by 8.6 percent in the last year, from 33,225 to 36,081, with more than half aged between 25 and 44.

Furthermore,  an additional 783 refs have joined the game, and three new clubs - Brixton Bulls, Knutsford, Faringdon - have begun fielding sides.

"We are very encouraged by these figures - they show that the strategy we have put in place for a lasting legacy from winning the World Cup is working," said Terry Burwell of the RFU.

"The information is based on a robust sample of our member clubs but we also know of similar percentage increases in schools, students and forces rugby.

"The challenge now is to retain those new players in sustainable clubs. That's why the growth in volunteers, coaches and referees, as well as the £28.5milllion invested in clubs last year is integral to the growth of the game."