New Zealand Rugby League chairman Scott Carter today welcomed SPARC's announcement that it would invest a record $3 million dollars in the game over the next three years.

Carter said the NZRL board was delighted with the commitment SPARC had made with its decision to fund rugby league at an unprecedented level.

"This is another important step in the process as we strive to rebuild the game and create a healthy future," he said.

"As an organisation we have worked hard to implement the recommendations made by the Sir John Anderson Report following the independent review of rugby league across the country.

"The level of SPARC's investment now gives us the confidence and the means to execute our strategic plan, which we believe is critical to the game's wellbeing."

Carter said SPARC's money would be used directly to strengthen clubs, districts and zones by providing coaching and development and management resources in each of the NZRL's seven zones.

"We've received a lot of support from around the country for the changes we have made and now, with this funding, we will be in a position to sustain these reforms," he said.

"Rugby league has never had this level of government investment before. It's a sign of SPARC's faith in us that it is now backing the sport in this way. We have put a strategy and structures in place to take the game to another level; now it's up to us as an organisation to make it work."

Carter said SPARC's funding would support the drive to revive rugby league at grass roots level through the seven zones created under the new constitution.

He thanked SPARC for its continued support and said the board looked forward to working more closely with gaming trusts and commercial partners to supplement SPARC's funding.