English Rugby may still be smarting from its early Rugby World Cup exit but a strong start to the club season in Europe has been backed up now by a record financial performance in the 2014/15 season.
The year leading up to the World Cup produced record revenues and higher than ever investment in the sport.
Revenues exceeded £200m for the first time thanks to the effect of the high number of Twickenham matches on ticket, broadcasting hospitality and other match-day revenues, non-match day conference and event revenues, renewed long-term sponsorship deals and the recognition of Rugby World Cup Revenues to match costs incurred.
Revenues at the IRFU over the same period were €74.1M. The IRFU’s annual report and accounts can be viewed here.
That revenue figure is just over 25% that of it’s larger neighbour, a very favourable comparison given that the number of clubs and players is far smaller in relative terms.
Rugby investment in England increased 2% over the previous year to £76.8m, with investment in professional rugby broadly flat with 2013/14 but rugby development investment up by 5% (£1.5m) due to increased spending on game development and growth initiatives.
“This was a busy and financially successful year with a retained profit of £7.7m after making a record level of investment directly into clubs and in operating the English game at all levels,” said RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie.
RFU Chief Financial Officer Stephen Brown added, “The financial performance in 2014/15 was exceptionally strong, the RFU delivering a fifth consecutive year of rugby investment growth, which now exceeds Strategic Plan projections by £14m over the past three years.”
Highlights for the year included:
- Revenue of £207.9m
- Total investment in rugby up 2% over previous year
- Completion of the Twickenham Stadium upgrade project on time and on budget
- Increased long-term commercial partnerships across the game.
- England men and women confirm GB 7s place for Olympics
- Women & Girls Strategy launched following the England win in Paris in Women’s Rugby World Cup.
- All Schools programme, supported by CBRE, has now brought 400 new state secondary schools to rugby
- O2 Touch programme reaches 10,000 registered players
- Investment in and preparation for Rugby World Cup 2015
- Continuing Lead Up & Legacy work
- UNITY project helping rugby development in 17 European nations.
The 2015 Annual Report & Accounts can be accessed here
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