YORK'S rugby league community game is set to benefit from a grant of more than a quarter of a million pounds as part of a wave of investment associated with the Rugby League World Cup 2021.

CreatedBy, RLWC2021's capital grants programme, is to provide £262,000 of a £1million project at York St John University to install a 3G pitch that is intended to act as a hub for rugby league in the Minster city.

The development will provide the community game with year-round access to training facilities and is hoped will support the growth of women and girls, as well as disability rugby league through the partnership with the York City Knights Foundation.

In January, the programme handed the Knights' Foundation £4,300 to help expand participation among young people, while Heworth and New Earswick All Blacks received £14,600 each for kits, equipment and facilities.

This latest slice of funding brings the total investment of CreatedBy's large grants to more than £4m, spread across 20 projects. Developments at Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, in partnership with West Bowling ARLFC, and Cockermouth Titans in Cumbria are also set to benefit from this round.

There are eight weeks to go until the closing of the large grant application process, which has been called "the cornerstone of the RLWC2021 journey".

"Through the CreatedBy Capital Grants Programme, RLWC2021, the Rugby Football League, Sport England and the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) have been able to give opportunities and essential funds to some of the hardest hit and most disadvantaged communities across the United Kingdom - with more than half of the funding going to the top 30 per cent deprived areas - predominately in the rugby league heartlands of the north of England," a piece on the RFL's website reads.

Jon Dutton, RLWC2021's chief executive, said: “Our ambition has always been that RLWC2021 will be the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup in history with social impact at the heart of everything we do.

“We thank Sport England and DCMS for their support in making the vision to deliver widespread positive influence through this trailblazing tournament a reality. The latest recipients show the power of the programme that has generated huge interest since opening and over the past 12 months has been a beacon of hope for so many.

“The true impact of the programme will be felt when grassroots sport returns at the end of March and many of the coaches, players, families and local people experience their new facilities and equipment for the first time.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "I'm absolutely delighted the CreatedBy project is continuing to provide much-needed funding for our rugby league community.

"As we move towards the March 29 reopening and beyond, these new funds will deliver exciting new sporting opportunities for athletes of all ages and abilities."

Sport England Director of Property Charles Johnston added: "As ever, we continue to be pleased to be a part of this popular programme to help support rugby league clubs improve their offer to the local community.

“We have been so impressed by the quality of the applications and the fact that the scheme has always aimed to help those areas in most need. These new awards will make such a difference to these clubs and bring some much-needed hope to the local community when sport is able to reopen."

Ralph Rimmer, the chief executive of the RFL, concluded: “Our sport has never seen such a substantial programme of investment in community facilities as the CreatedBy Capital Grants Programme - and these three large grants will have a lasting impact in the cities of Bradford and York, and in West Cumbria.

“Again, we are grateful to Sport England and the Government for allowing the RFL and Rugby League World Cup 2021 to provide crucial new facilities and opportunities.”