The Australian Rugby Union has been awarded a $1.7 million grant to move its Sydney offices to Moore Park and expand a version of the game from a state government fund designed to build community infrastructure.

The funding - authorised by Deputy Premier Troy Grant - is more than three times that given to other projects last financial year under the ClubGRANTS scheme, funded via the poker machine profits of the state's largest clubs.

"Greater access and reach": Troy Grant previously said the maximum payment per project would be $500,000.

But the ARU is not proposing to move offices for another two years.

Mr Grant is refusing to disclose the exact terms of the payment, citing "commercial in confidence" concerns.