Leinster’s strong season aids IRFU to £1.1m profit

The IRFU have posted a massive increase in revenue after Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam success and Leinster’s league and European double.

€9.1m in revenue ballooned to a whopping €85.7m, an increase in pound sterling of £67.8m.

Joe Schmidt’s side accounted for €6.3m of the increase after their Champions Cup final victory in Bilbao over Racing 92 to lift a fourth European crown.

The financial report is another boost to Irish rugby following the national team’s 2-1 series victory over the Wallabies in June, easing the feeling of disappointment over losing out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup to France.

The bidding process contributed to the IRFU’s budget for the 2017-18 season being in deficit to the tune of €4m. The cost of hosting the Women’s World Cup and a boost in investment for grassroots also factored in to this figure.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne provided the following comment on the financial state of Irish rugby: “The 2017/18 season was a record breaking one in terms of team and financial performance, and it is thanks to Joe Schmidt and his management team, the provincial management teams and all the players, as well as the loyal and ever increasing number of supporters who attend games, purchase merchandise and drive our teams on to winning performance

“The financing of the game has become increasingly important in the context of competing with international clubs who have deep pockets. Keeping our best players in our player management system has helped to deliver success and I congratulate David Nucifora and all our provinces for making the Irish system so attractive to players.

“Success is never guaranteed, and for that reason we must always be careful how we distribute funding across all aspects of the game.

“Given the political and economic uncertainty in the world at the moment, and as a number of the provinces are expecting that finances will be very tight next year, we must continue to ensure we don’t live beyond our means.”

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Tagged IRFU, Leinster