The Rugby Football Union (RFU), the governing body for rugby union in England, is headquartered in Twickenham, Greater London, GB. Established in 1871, the RFU has played a pivotal role in shaping the sport, overseeing competitions, and promoting rugby at all levels across the nation. As a key player in the sports industry, the RFU focuses on grassroots development, elite performance, and the management of the England national rugby teams. Its core offerings include organising domestic leagues, international fixtures, and coaching programmes, all designed to enhance the rugby experience. With a strong market position, the RFU has achieved significant milestones, including hosting the Rugby World Cup and fostering a vibrant community of players and fans. Its commitment to inclusivity and innovation sets it apart in the competitive landscape of sports governance.
How does Rugby Football Union's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Recreation and Sports Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Rugby Football Union's score of 29 is higher than 54% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2023, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) reported significant carbon emissions totalling approximately 713,000,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, 30,000,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2, and 65,000,000 kg CO2e for Scope 3 emissions. The Scope 3 emissions primarily stem from business travel, accounting for about 65,000,000 kg CO2e, alongside 15,000,000 kg CO2e from purchased goods and services. Despite these figures, the RFU has not established specific reduction targets or climate pledges, indicating a lack of formal commitments to mitigate their carbon footprint. The emissions data is not cascaded from any parent organisation, reflecting the RFU's independent reporting status. As the RFU continues to engage with climate issues, it remains crucial for the organisation to develop and implement robust strategies aimed at reducing its overall emissions and enhancing sustainability within the sport.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 713,000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 30,000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | 65,000,000,000 |
Their carbon footprint includes suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 8% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Business Travel" being the largest emissions source at 100% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Rugby Football Union has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

