Scottish Rugby report multi-million pound, record breaking financial results...again
Scottish Rugby has generated one of the strongest operating results for the game in its history – according to the organisation who released its 2017/18 Annual Report has confirmed today.
A record turnover of £57.2million was achieved over the 2017/18 season, an 11% rise of £5.8million on the previous season and equating to a 63% rise in income growth since 2011.
This in turn has generated a surplus of £1.8million, among the highest ever recorded for the organisation.
The record-breaking financial results have also enabled Scottish Rugby to record its lowest average debt in the professional era.
A figure of £2.4million has been reported, a drop of £2.8million on the average debt reported in the previous year (2016/17), creating a platform for increasing sums of money to be reinvested into the grassroots game.
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Scottish Rugby Chairman, Colin Grassie, said: “I’m pleased to report this year’s turnover of £57.2m marks an increase of £5.8m on the previous year.
“These results provide financial stability and have been driven by growth in broadcast revenue, as well as hospitality and other events at BT Murrayfield.
“On the pitch we have quality coaches, staff and a technical blueprint in place that is helping to drive the success of our national teams and develop our young players.”
The increase in turnover was achieved through strong broadcast revenues of £15.2m and a rise in other operating income to £18.9m in relation to increased commercialisation of the Guinness PRO14, higher match-day hospitality and game-day related sales at BT Murrayfield, non-matchday events and income from British & Irish Lions.
Despite one less Six Nations Championship game last season, ticketing income dropped only slightly to £12.3m as a result of higher average game attendances. Commercial income also recorded a slight fall to £10.8m, reflecting the tough sponsorship market.
The consistent improving performances of the Scotland national team has driven the commercial gains, reflected through five consecutive sell-out matches at BT Murrayfield in the past season and the 553,969 tickets bought to watch professional rugby in Scotland, 335,720 to watch the Scotland national team.
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Scottish Rugby Chief Executive, Mark Dodson, said: “Rugby in Scotland is enjoying a resurgence at international and professional level and the support for these teams has never been stronger. This has contributed to the strong financial position we can report this year, which will help us to continue to move the game forward at all levels.
“We are committing record levels of investment into the grassroots game in Scotland in order to create a sustainable environment and help improve the standards of rugby being played across the board.
“We continue to build our brand on the global stage and find ourselves in a strong position as we head into Rugby World Cup 2019.”
The sponsorship renewal of BT, extension of Tennent’s and continued support from Macron and new partners helped underpin the positive progress being made on the commercial side.
The results will support the ongoing and increasing investment in grassroots rugby in Scotland to deliver the Agenda 3 programme of support to clubs to help continue work in participation, performance and improved sustainability, as announced at last season’s AGM.
Following four years of support from Principal Partner BT Scottish Rugby is also committing to continuing, and fully funding itself, the highly important Club Sustainability Fund, which saw £1.6million invested into capital, revenue and fast-track projects, over the past four years.
A total of 31 clubs in Scotland have been supported for capital developments through the Club Sustainability Fund towards projects with overall costs of £15.6million during the four years of the previous funding term.
Across all three funding streams of the fund, 167 clubs in Scotland have received financial support for projects, initiatives and improvements.
Scottish Rugby’s Chief Operating Officer, Dominic McKay, said: “Commercial success is vital in order to develop rugby in Scotland from the grassroots game to the international stage.
This season our turnover reached a record £57.2m, building on the growth from previous seasons.
“This increase in turnover has been enhanced by a growing fan base for rugby in Scotland and last season we welcomed more than 500,000 fans to our international and professional games. In terms of Scotland crowds, it was the best season ever with 335,720 attending, beating last year’s record despite hosting fewer matches.
“BT Murrayfield continues to be a hugely popular venue for concerts and events and I’m delighted our family of sponsors is growing and existing partners have chosen to extend their time with us further.”
The Annual Report also highlights the excellent work being done to develop rugby in Scotland for the future.
Some 872 teams from 104 clubs, 150 state schools and 25 independent schools compete in the Mitsubishi Motors Schools & Youth Conferences. Now in its third year, the conferences are going from strength to strength, with 2,626 games played (a rise of 16%).
The work with young players is supported nationally through the delivery of over 24,000 rugby sessions by Development Officers last season, across primary schools, secondary schools and clubs.
Strong growth is also being seen in the women and girls’ game. Last season there was a 19% rise in women’s teams to 62.
More than 200 games were played at U15 and U18 level and nearly 1000 female players have been introduced to the sport through Scottish Rugby’s #BeTheBestYou campaign.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
17 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
17 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
17 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
17 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
17 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
17 Go to comments