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IRFU reports record revenues for 2018/19... but they also issue Brexit warning

Jacob Stockdale leads the celebrations of Ireland's win last November in Dublin (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Irish Rugby has grown its revenues to a record €87.5million for the 2018/19 year, an increase of €1.8m on the corresponding period last year.  

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The increased revenue resulted from the sale of additional 10-year tickets and corporate boxes together with an increase in PRO14 revenues which has been passed on to the provincial teams.  

The men’s international game now accounts for 81 per cent of all IRFU revenues through ticket sales hospitality, sponsorship and amortised income. 

When added to the 15 per cent generated by PRO14 and EPCR this results in 96 per cent of the Union’s revenues being attributable to the men’s professional game.

The net revenues from the professional game were allocated across the entire game, with increases to domestic game funding, women’s rugby, values-based initiatives through the Spirit of Rugby Programme, and the promotion of the game, particularly on driving attendance to this year’s Women’s Six Nations games.

As reported earlier this year, the IRFU, who will be hoping for unprecedented success at the World Cup in Japan, also netted just over €24m from the sale of land at Newlands Cross.  The Union has agreed that the net proceeds of this sale are to be applied for the benefit of the domestic game.

CEO Philip Browne said: “We are pleased to report strong revenues for the 2018/19 financial year.   

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“As we move to implementing our latest strategic plan, entitled Building Success, Together, which includes ambitious plans for the development of our women’s game, we rely heavily on the revenues generated by the senior men’s team.

“These revenues come from loyal supporters, partners and Sport Ireland, who provide the funding for the development of every aspect of the game. We are extremely grateful for such support.

“With the impact of Brexit still unknown, the future for all businesses is uncertain. We must continue to govern the game in a prudent and responsible manner.

“In that respect, we must ensure the revenues received from the Newlands sale continue to deliver an income that can be spent on our on-going grassroots programmes.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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