1
NZR predict staggering NZ$30 million losses
The New Zealand Rugby Union has posted a NZ$1.9 (£900,000) million loss for 2018 and is predicted to be facing a massive NZ$30m (£15.5m) cumulative deficit over the next five years raising more concerns over the financial health of the sport.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the 2018 loss was $1.4m better than the $3.3m it had budgeted for, New Zealand media reported that Colin Groves – the Waikato Rugby Union chairman – used his speech at Wednesday’s annual general meeting to highlight that NZR has a projected $30m deficit coming over the next five years.
In 2018, there was a record $63m (£32m) on player payments, $31m (£16m) spent on “game development” and $8m(£4m) invested solely in the women’s game.
NZR chief executive Steve Tew insisted it was something they expected to be able to overcome and said: “We prepare long-term financial projections which we share with the provincial unions on a regular basis and if nothing changes we will have a deficit over that period, but as we’ve shown in the last 10 years we’ve worked very hard to fill those gaps.
“Part of it is driven by foreign exchange gains. When we signed AIG and Adidas [sponsorships] and some of the broadcasting contracts we were able to secure some long-term foreign exchange positions, which have been very beneficial.
Continue reading below…
“We’ve been spending that income, but that income is not going to be repeated because the dollar is in a different position and the next time we sign long-term contracts we may not get those gains. That’s money we have to replace or stop spending.”
NZR earned $189m (£98m)in 2018, which was up 17 percent from 2016, but significantly down from the $257m (£132m)the 2017 Lions tour helped generate. The increase in revenue from 2016 to 2018 was mainly driven by the increase in commercial sponsorship and licensing income to $68m(£35m).
ADVERTISEMENT
Tew was adamant 2018’s result was a positive sign and added: “We’re very pleased with our result. As you know, 2017 was a record profit because of the British and Irish Lions, and we have to effectively spread that out over a period of time. So we are deliberately budgeting a loss in 2019, as we did in 2018. We’re spending money that we’ve earned one year that has to last ideally for 12 [years], but it won’t.”
Comments on RugbyPass
GOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
150 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
150 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
150 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
150 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
150 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
150 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
150 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
150 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
150 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
150 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
150 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
150 Go to commentsHo hum.
150 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
150 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to comments