Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

Ticket revenues, discounting the 2015 World Cup, increased thanks to Old Mutual Wealth Series and Six Nations matches at Twickenham

A record £99.6m was invested in English rugby union in the last year, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has revealed.

The annual report, external-link published on Thursday, shows an 11% rise in the money put into the sport in 2016-17.

The RFU says the figures, which include an operating loss for the year of £6m, show the "commitment to invest all profits into rugby".

Year-on-year revenues were down as the 2015-16 results included revenues from the World Cup.

The governing body added that its balance sheet "remains strong" with net assets of £215m.

RFU chief executive Steve Brown said they always expected this to be a "period of reinvigoration".

"Growth was achieved across the key revenue streams, and our overheads were 9% lower year-on-year," Brown added.

The RFU's investment in Rugby Development increased by £1.8m to £35.9m, while investment in the professional game rose by £8m to £63.7m.