England "may not have reached the knockout phase of the Rugby World Cup last year" but the Rugby Football Union enjoyed "spectacular success off the field," according to Robert Kitson of the London GUARDIAN. The RFU’s annual financial report shows the union doubled its revenues to £407.1M ($494.7M) with record profits for rugby investment of £102.3M ($124.3M), an increase of 37%. The "highest turnover in the RFU’s history was boosted by World Cup-generated revenue" of £228.1M ($277.2M), with the tournament "exceeding expectations on all fronts bar the host nation’s performance." Total revenue increased by £199.2M ($242M) on the previous financial year, allowing the RFU to post a "retained profit" of £3.9M ($4.7M) compared with a loss of £6.7M in '14‑15. The figures "will not be greeted with universal joy in the southern hemisphere," which is "already struggling to compete financially with the world’s richest union." This dramatic upturn "was made possible by underlying revenue growth" in broadcasting (up 39%), sponsorship (up 8%), matchday hospitality and non‑matchday conference and events (up 3%) and travel revenues. England Rugby Travel, the official travel operator for RWC 2015, "saw an eight-fold revenue increase." RFU CEO Ian Ritchie described it as "a truly exceptional year" which would have a "big impact on the grassroots game in England" (GUARDIAN, 10/14).
HEFTY BONUS: In London, Ben Rumsby reported Ritchie was awarded a £100,000 ($121,500) bonus during the year of England’s home World Cup "humiliation." His remuneration "soared" by 16% to £700,000 ($850,600) despite the country becoming the "first tournament hosts to crash out in the pool stages." The 62-year-old "appears to have been rewarded for the staggering financial success of the tournament," with the RFU’s turnover almost doubling to £407.1M in '15-16, "a record for a British sports governing body" and almost £100M ($121.5M) more than that reported by the FA in its most recent set of accounts. Ritchie was "also responsible for the appointment of Eddie Jones as head coach," which resulted in England winning its first Six Nations Grand Slam since '03 and a "first tour whitewash of a southern hemisphere country" (TELEGRAPH, 10/15).
