Irb Unveils Strong Finances

The International Rugby Board has unveiled strong financial results for 2006
with revenues totalling £53m – 20% ahead of the governing body’s budget.

The results, which cover the year ending 31st December 2006 and mark the
third year in a four-year financial cycle leading up to the 2007 Rugby World
Cup, have been driven by commercial interest in the tournament with broadcasters
lining up to buy the TV rights and all six headline sponsorship slots filled
well in advance of the end of the season.

With total expenditures for the year of £32m in line with budget for the
period, the IRB was able to increase its spend on developing worldwide interest
in the game as the governing body’s head of finance Robert Brophy explained:

‘The IRB’s commitment resulted in an extra £30m being invested in the game at
Tier 1 and Tier 2 Union levels as part of the unprecedented, three-year Global
Strategic Investment Programme that was launched in August 2005. This also
includes significant investment for targeted Tier 3 Unions of up to £1.3m.

‘This sum supplements the existing Union development grants of £6.3m and
tournament grants of £5.4m that the IRB already invests annually in its 115
member Unions and means that £65.1m will have been distributed by the IRB for
the global development of the game in the three years to December 2008.’ 

This investment has also resulted in the implementation of new international
competitions across the globe, including the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup, IRB Pacific
Nations Cup, IRB North America 4 and IRB Nations Cup in Europe as well as
enhanced funding for the Churchill Cup and various regional Tournaments in
Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.