WRU reports £7.5m loss for 2024

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has reported a loss of £7.5m for the financial year ended in June 2024.

This year’s loss comes despite the WRU seeing an increase in annual revenue from £97.9m to £102.7m.

In 2023, the WRU made a loss of £4.8m, after generating a profit of £3m for the previous year.

The WRU cited a rise in operating costs from £67.1m to £75.1m, as well as increased costs for the men’s national team during a World Cup year, and strategic investment into women’s and girl’s rugby, as factors for this year’s results.

Meanwhile, payments to Wales’ four professional clubs – Ospreys, Scarlets, Cardiff, and Dragons – totalled £28.7m collectively, which is down from £35.5m last year.

This is partially due to the funding clubs are receiving from the new Professional Rugby Agreement, which was signed early last year, and is intended to provide greater financial sustainability for the teams until 2029.

Last July, the organisation expanded its partnership with Vodafone to become the font-of-shirt sponsor of Wales’ men’s national team.

“The WRU has been presented with a number of financial obstacles this year and previously, including a period of high inflation,” said Abi Tierney, CEO at the WRU.

“The high interest rates and a high inflation economy has had a direct impact on consumer spending trends and a reduction in disposable income which has been felt across the UK, not just in Wales.

“This in turn has affected ticket sales and match income. Our aim, as ever, is to maximise the re-investment into rugby each year and despite the current financial position £60.4m was re-invested into Welsh rugby over the financial year.”

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