What RugbyWA does

RugbyWA (legal entity Western Australia Rugby Union Inc.) is the state governing body for rugby union in Western Australia, operating as a non-profit sporting organization under the Rugby Australia national network from its headquarters in Floreat. The organization administers community club competitions across Senior Men, Women's & Girls, and Junior formats (U8s through U18s), alongside inclusive programs including Tri Tag Rugby (non-contact), All Abilities, Over 35s Masters, and regional competitions spanning metropolitan Perth and non-metropolitan regions including the Goldfields, Mid-West, South West, and Great Southern. It also delivers schools programs (PSA Rugby, School Ambassador Program), representative pathways via Regional and State Championships, and aligns with Western Force for elite player development through Academy Pathways and Alignment Camps.

The technology stack is operationally focused: Rugby Xplorer serves as the centralized member registration and management platform shared nationally via MyRugbyLink, complemented by ISO/IEC 27000-compliant cloud storage and streaming distribution through Stan. The organization does not develop proprietary technology beyond governance and content assets. Revenue is generated through five streams: player registration fees processed via Rugby Xplorer, sponsorship and naming rights (with Fortescue as flagship Premier Grade sponsor), event revenue from tournaments including the AFGRI Albany 7s and NAIDOC Bunbury 7s, annual club affiliation fees, and charitable donations through the Rugby Foundation of Western Australia routed via the Australian Sports Foundation. Membership tiers range from $3,100 (Legend, 10-year commitment) to $8,200 (Double) inc GST, with club grant funding available up to $5,000 ex GST per round.

The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven, leveraging a network of affiliated clubs, school ambassador programs, and regional managers to drive grassroots participation. The Rugby Foundation, established in 2006, has injected over $1.9 million into grassroots rugby over the preceding seven years and functions as the charitable subsidiary enabling tax-deductible giving. Customer concentration is dispersed across individual players, clubs, and schools, while commercial revenue is moderately concentrated around a small core of flagship sponsors.

Name

RugbyWA

Legal name

Western Australia Rugby Union (Inc)

Website

https://wa.rugby

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RugbyWA is the state governing body for rugby union in Western Australia, administering community club competitions, schools programs, and representative pathways from U8s through seniors across nine regions. It serves players, clubs, and schools, with inclusive formats (All Abilities, Tri Tag, Over 35s) and elite pathways aligned to Western Force.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport Governance and Rugby Union Administration

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF), Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ)

Keywords

• Rugby union governance
• Community rugby administration
• Coach education programs
• Referee development training
• Sports pathway programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Player Registration Fees: Revenue generated from player registrations processed through the Rugby Xplorer platform. Players register through community clubs and schools to participate in RugbyWA-sanctioned competitions.
2. Sponsorship and Naming Rights: Corporate sponsorship arrangements including Fortescue as naming rights sponsor for the Premier Grade competitions (Men's and Women's). Sponsors receive visibility across competitions, events, and team apparel.
3. Foundation Donations: The Rugby Foundation of Western Australia collects tax-deductible donations via the Australian Sports Foundation to support grassroots programs, grants, and regional subsidies.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from major tournaments and events including AFGRI Albany 7s and NAIDOC Bunbury 7s, with merchandise sales, registration fees, and partner support.
5. Club Affiliation Fees: Annual affiliation fees from community clubs, with grant programs available to support club development including facilities, equipment, and inclusive programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RugbyWA is the state governing body for rugby union in Western Australia, administering community competitions (Fortescue Premier Grade, Community Grade, Championship), representative pathways, and inclusive programs across metropolitan and regional WA. The organization delivers coaching education, referee development, school programs, and the complete player pathway from juniors through to professional rugby aligned with the Western Force. As a non-profit, it operates community tournaments (NAIDOC Bunbury 7s, AFGRI Albany 7s), charity programs through the Rugby Foundation of Western Australia, and tier-based memberships.

Product overview

RugbyWA operates as a state sports governing body offering a portfolio of rugby programs and services. The core offerings include community club competitions (Senior Men, Women's & Girls, Junior Rugby), representative and performance pathways (Emerging Players Program, Match Official Academy, Regional Championships, Alignment Camps), and the Rugby Foundation of Western Australia which provides charitable support including the Boots Project, Regional Club Subsidies Program, and Club Grants. Key competition products include Fortescue Premier Grade (Men's and Women's), Rugby 7s tournaments (NAIDOC Bunbury 7s, AFGRI Albany 7s), Tri Tag Rugby (non-contact variant), and All Abilities rugby programs. Educational offerings include Coach Education and Referee Education pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rugby Foundation of Western Australia: Charitable foundation dedicated to fostering growth, inclusivity, and excellence within the rugby community of Western Australia through philanthropic efforts providing resources, funding, and support to grassroots initiatives

Products and services

• Fortescue Men's Premier Grade Competition Senior men's competitive rugby union competition for community rugby clubs across Western Australia. Delivered for adult male players participating in affiliated club competitions, governed by RugbyWA.
• Fortescue Women's Premier Grade Competition Senior women's competitive rugby union competition, including community clubs such as the SheGulls women's team. Delivered for female rugby players in WA.
• Rugby 7s Tournaments (NAIDOC Bunbury 7s and AFGRI Albany 7s) Major Rugby 7s tournament events including the NAIDOC Bunbury 7s and AFGRI Albany 7s, delivered for community rugby clubs and regional teams across WA with support from government and corporate partners.
• All Abilities Rugby Program Inclusive rugby program for participants with disabilities, including the Southern Lions All Abilities team with over 30 members. Delivered for people with disabilities seeking accessible rugby participation.
• Tri Tag Rugby Non-contact, attack-based rugby union game variant designed for fun, safety, and inclusivity. Delivered for beginners, those wanting to try rugby, and community participation.
• Coach Education Programs Structured coaching education and certification pathway for rugby coaches in WA, with over 450 registered coaches supported.
• Referee Education Programs (including Green Shirt Program) Referee training, certification, and ongoing development including the Green Shirt Program for new referees and match official mentoring. Delivered for referees and match officials in WA.
• RugbyWA Memberships (Standard, Double, Legend) Annual subscription memberships for RugbyWA supporters, providing access to Western Force home game day experiences, test match pre-sales, SVNS access, merchandise discounts, and VIP event invitations.
• Rugby Foundation of Western Australia Programs (Boots Project, Regional Club Subsidies, Club Grants) Charitable programs for grassroots rugby including the Boots Project (providing boots for players), Regional Club Subsidies Program, and Club Grants (up to $5,000 ex GST per club). Funded by tax-deductible donations through the Australian Sports Foundation.
• School Ambassador Program and School Programs School-based rugby programs including the School Ambassador Program, PSA Rugby competitions, curriculum-integrated rugby, and All Abilities School Programs, delivered for primary and secondary schools in WA.
• Emerging Players Program and Alignment Camps High-performance player pathway programs including the Emerging Players Program, Alignment Camps with Western Force Academy coaches, and representative team selections. Delivered for promising junior and senior players progressing to professional rugby.
• Streaming and Match Coverage Live and on-demand streaming of Western Force games and Premier Grade matches, delivered via streaming partners like Stan for rugby supporters and spectators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 450 registered coaches trained and supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FortescueflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFortescue serves as the naming rights sponsor for RugbyWA's Premier Grade competitions, with the Fortescue Men's Premier Grade and Fortescue Women's Premier Grade named in recognition of this partnership. The sponsorship provides significant visibility across all premier grade matches and club competitions.
• AFGRI Equipment AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAFGRI Equipment Australia supports the AFGRI Albany 7s, RugbyWA's biggest 7s event. The tournament is a post-regular season competition for junior participants in the Great Southern region.
• Western Australian GovernmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Western Australian Government backed the NAIDOC Bunbury 7s tournament, supporting regional rugby development and First Nations community engagement initiatives.
• Insurance Commission of WAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Insurance Commission of WA backed the NAIDOC Bunbury 7s tournament as part of community support for regional rugby and First Nations cultural celebrations.
• Shire of HarveycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Shire of Harvey supported the NAIDOC Bunbury 7s tournament hosted in partnership with the Bunbury Barbarians Rugby Union Club.
• Electrical Group TrainingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerElectrical Group Training supports RugbyWA pathway programs including the 2026 ASJRU Championships team representing Western Australia.
• Labrador Petro ManagementcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLabrador Petro Management supports RugbyWA pathway programs including national representative team competitions.
• ID AthleticcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerID Athletic supports RugbyWA pathway programs and serves as the official merchandise provider for tournaments like the AFGRI Albany 7s.
• Australian Sports FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Australian Sports Foundation is the only deductible gift recipient for sports in Australia and processes all donations to the Rugby Foundation of Western Australia, enabling tax-deductible contributions to grassroots rugby.
• Western ForceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Force is the professional Super Rugby team aligned with RugbyWA, providing the elite end of the player pathway. The alignment includes Academy Pathways connecting community rugby through to professional contracts, with Western Force Academy coaches involved in RugbyWA Emerging Players Programs and Alignment Camps.
• Rugby AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRugby Australia is the national governing body for rugby union in Australia. RugbyWA operates as a state-level member organization within the Rugby AU network, with shared systems including Rugby Xplorer for registration and MyRugbyLink for player records.
• SEDA CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEDA College partners with RugbyWA for the SEDA College Sports Development Program, providing educational pathways combined with rugby development for students.
• Southern Lions Rugby Union ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSouthern Lions is a community club with a nation-leading All Abilities program, the first specialized team for people with disabilities in Australia when launched. The club received $7,500 grant for All Abilities Program expansion.
• Perth Rams Rugby Union ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPerth Rams is Western Australia's only LGBTQIA+ inclusive rugby club, receiving grant funding for coach education initiative to develop self-sufficient coaching capability.
• West Australian Rugby Union Referee Association (WARURA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWARURA received grant funding for enhanced radio equipment to support referee development and real-time mentoring through Match Officials Developers (MODs).
• Bunbury Barbarians Rugby Union ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBunbury Barbarians co-hosts the NAIDOC Bunbury 7s tournament with RugbyWA, supporting regional rugby development and First Nations community engagement.
• beyond the gameminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorbeyond the game is a partner organization providing additional support for Rugby Foundation communications and community engagement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Queensland Rugby Union: State governing body for rugby union in Queensland, also under Rugby Australia. Closely comparable in mandate, governance structure, and pathway model, with its own alignment to the Queensland Reds (Super Rugby) as RugbyWA aligns to Western Force.
• Rugby Victoria: State governing body for rugby union in Victoria, similarly structured under Rugby Australia with community competitions, schools, and performance pathways. Provides a comparable state-body model in a different geographic market.
• South Australia Rugby Union: State governing body for rugby union in South Australia, providing community competitions, schools programs, and pathways. Comparable smaller-scale state body similar in market size to RugbyWA's WA footprint.
• Rugby NSW: State-level governing body for rugby union in New South Wales, operating under Rugby Australia. Directly comparable to RugbyWA in structure (community clubs, schools, representative pathways) but serves a much larger population base and operates in a more competitive sporting market.
• ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union: State-level rugby union body covering the ACT and southern NSW region, operating community competitions and aligned with the ACT Brumbies. Closely comparable in governance and pathway structure to RugbyWA.

Broad incumbents

• Rugby Australia: National governing body for rugby union in Australia and RugbyWA's parent organization. Comparable in operating model (governing body, competitions, pathways) but operates at national scale rather than state level; provides shared systems such as Rugby Xplorer.

Regional players

• Western Force: Western Australia-based professional Super Rugby team that serves as the elite end of RugbyWA's player pathway. While not a direct competitor, it is materially comparable as a WA-based rugby organization with overlapping sponsor relationships and shared participant pipeline.
• Football West: State governing body for football (soccer) in Western Australia. Operates the same community-led model with clubs, schools, and representative pathways in the same WA geography, competing for the same participant pool and sponsorship dollars.
• West Australian Football Commission (WAFC): State-level body for Australian rules football in Western Australia. Competes directly with RugbyWA for winter participation in WA, with an analogous community-club, schools, and pathway structure, making it the dominant competitive incumbent in WA grassroots sport.

Others

• New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL): State-level governing body for rugby league in NSW. Operates an analogous state governing body model (community clubs, schools, representative pathways) but for a different rugby code, making it a structural peer rather than a direct competitor for participants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RWA_Community

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RugbyWA