The IRFU Annual report showed a healthy surplus of €7.3 million in the year 2013/2014. On Tuesday we looked at some opportunities arising out of the international game, while yesterday we focused on commercial revenue streams from the Provinces and through sponsorship.
Today we continue our look at the report by focusing on what it has to say about club rugby across Ireland.
Perhaps the most important element of the Report’s recognition of clubs is the provision of an additional €1 million to the existing Club Financial Assistance Scheme.
This is to bolster the existing revolving fund of €2.5 million the amount of which has been fully drawn down by clubs.
There is an application process whereby clubs can apply for low interest loans from the Union for the purposes of upgrading pitches, dressing rooms and other facilities. The fund is generally used as part of an overall fundraising exercise which might include revenue from the Government Sports Capital Grants and money raised privately from sponsorship and among a club’s own membership.
Players
The number of registered players through the country stands at 72,916 of which 17,293 are playing at senior men’s level and 3,699 at Senior Women’s. 22,326 are playing age grade rugby up to 18 and the biggest single cohort of 29,598 is involved in mini rugby where growth in numbers has been strongest.
The numbers do fall some way short of the other major sports with the entire playing number from age 12 up being able to fill around 80% of the Aviva Stadium capacity.
Keeping players involved in clubs, whether socially or through coaching and involvement in the kids games is therefore critical for the health of clubs who are otherwise working off a much smaller base than some of the other sports.
This imbalance in numbers can be clearly seen even in the rugby heartland of South Dublin where Blackrock College Rugby Club with 200 members is looking at a facility sharing project with Cuala GAA club which has almost ten times that number of registered members.
The Ulster Bank League performed strongly in 2014 with a Friday Night Lights initiative drawing greater media and public interest at a time over the weekend when there are less demands on families.
Streaming
12 games from the League and Cup were live streamed this year for the first time and again this is a move towards the future that can only be a good thing. Elements of how Rugby is transforming in the digital age will be discussed at the Sport for Business Autumn Series of Talks and Events around Digital Sport and Sponsorship in November.
The IRFU is increasing the budget for management and promotion of club and schools rugby from €9 million to €9.5 million in the current 12 months and will be implementing a number of the recommendations for last years publication of the Union’s report into club sustainibility.
Tomorrow we will conclude our analysis of the accounts by looking at the areas of development and Women’s Rugby
