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The English Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it made an operating loss of £37.9 million in 2023/24, compared to a profit of £4 million in the previous year.
The RFU said fewer home Six Nations games and no men’s Autumn Nations Series matches led to a £53.8 million decline in year-on-year revenue, including £25.4 million less on ticket sales, £22 million less received for catering and hospitality and a £6.4 million drop in broadcast revenues.
As expected in a men’s Rugby World Cup year, investment in England teams increased to £28.7 million versus £25.5 million in the prior year.
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Some £24.9 million was invested in professional men’s and women’s clubs while £12 million was invested in professional match officials, sports medicine and events and competitions.
Some £7.6 million was invested in Strategic Growth Fund projects in line with planned business cases for investment into digital transformation, commercialisation of the women’s game and the stadium redevelopment project.
The RFU also said there was restructuring of the organisation around strategic growth fund projects to ensure future revenue growth along with additional sponsorship and revenue opportunities to address the long-term operating deficit.
London (UK)-based the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871 and was the sport’s international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as the World Rugby (WR) in 1886.
It promotes and runs the sport, organizes the international matches for the England national team and educates and trains the players and the officials.
Chair of the RFU Board, Tom Ilube said, “Four years ago the game faced an unprecedented and unforeseen set of challenges and costs triggered by covid. We end this latest four-year cycle with a strong balance sheet, no debt, a robust cash position and positive P&L reserves.
“That is the result of strong leadership and hard work from everyone involved in rugby. The Rugby World Cup revenue impacts we see in this financial year were anticipated, planned for and they are in line with expectations. This has enabled us to continue investing strategically in the game at all levels with confidence.”
RFU CEO, Bill Sweeney added, “The RFU has planned well for this year, the fourth year in our business planning cycle, which is always loss making due to increased costs associated with going to the Rugby World Cup and as a result of hosting fewer games at Allianz Stadium.
“Emerging from post-covid challenges, which saw significant lost revenues, substantial increases in costs and inflation, and a drop in player participation, we are now entering into a period of significant transformation with a great deal to be positive about.”
Sweeney said that in the community game player numbers have stabilised, with more teams playing in RFU leagues and players reporting feeling safer as a result of a reduction in the tackle height.
There has been a year-on-year increase in age grade player registrations with boys registrations increasing by 16% and girls by 10%. Our Community Game Future project has now planned our first multiyear community game investment of £30m a year against a prioritised roadmap.
Sweeney added, “As we look forward to hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the Impact ’25 legacy programme that we are delivering with Government, Sport England and UK Sport has already seen £12.13 million committed in England and the home unions, creating more rugby opportunities for women and girls.
“In 2023-4 over £3 million was invested in 655 clubs nationwide with over 1,200 female coaches and match officials supported with their development with funding continuing to be committed through this season.
“Our investment in Strategic Growth Fund projects continues and these will safeguard future revenues across digital transformation, commercialisation of the women and girls’ game, and master-planning for the redevelopment of the stadium.”
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