IRFU To Increase Funding To Provinces And Grassroots By 4 Million
The Irish Rugby Football Union today presented its 2014/15 Annual Report and Accounts, reporting a surplus in excess of 8.7 million euro due to continuing strong ticket sales, new broadcast agreements and the prize-monies generated by the national team thanks to their success in the RBS 6 Nations Championship.
The surplus has resulted in a net cash operating surplus of 1.2 million euro (versus a 1 million euro deficit in 2013/14) after amortised non cash income and expenditure were accounted for.
The strong financial performance will allow the IRFU to increase funding to the provincial and club game by 4 million euro per annum from the start of the 2015/16 season.
Honorary Treasurer Tom Grace noted that although recent success on and off the pitch has afforded an opportunity for the Union to increase funding to the game, Irish rugby faces a number of significant challenges in the years ahead.
Presenting the accounts, Grace (pictured above with the rest of the 2015/16 IRFU Committee) said: “There are significant risks facing the Union, including economic uncertainty, the free-to-air issue and the relative financial strength of our partners and competitors in international and provincial rugby.
“For the second year in a row, the success of the national team in the RBS 6 Nations has boosted the level of prize money secured from the tournament.
“The strong support of the national team at the Aviva Stadium remains a vital source of revenue for the Union and contributes massively to the IRFU’s ability to provide funding to all levels of the game in Ireland.”
Download the IRFU’s Annual Report for 2014/15.