Martyn PhillipsWelsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union "announced a record turnover" of £97M ($129M) in its annual report, according to the BBC. The figure represents a 30% increase in revenue from the previous financial year's figure of £74.9M. The WRU said that it reinvested a record £42.8M ($56.8M) into rugby in Wales, while also retaining a profit of £2.3M ($3M) ahead of a projected loss next season. The annual report said that the Principality Stadium debt, which was about £75M when it was built in '99, is now £6.2M ($8.2M). The "main economic driver" remains hosting int'l rugby matches, for which revenue increased by £9.9M ($13.1M) from £35M to £44.9M ($59.6M). It represents 46% of the WRU's overall income (BBC, 9/20). The BBC reported WRU CEO Martyn Phillips said that staging extra internationals "is crucial" to the body's financial future. World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said this month that "less should be more" when it comes to national unions arranging int'l matches. He believes "some fixtures are imperative with the WRU." He said, "We are not overstressing its (Wales' autumn Test against Scotland) importance. It's not a difficult choice (to stage) because you know if we chose not to have the game, the ramifications would be very significant for everybody in rugby in Wales. ... You could say, 'Can we have fewer games which drive more value?' It is easy to say, it's harder to do -- but that could be an important factor" (BBC, 9/20).
'ARCHITECTS OF CHANGE': In London, Paul Rees reported Phillips backed calls by World Rugby Vice-Chair Agustín Pichot "for action to be taken to secure the future" of int'l rugby, saying that the current formula "does not have any long-term sustainability." Phillips, "echoing the thoughts" of Pichot, said, "If you keep running the same formula, has that got any long-term sustainability? My guess is that it will deteriorate and we need to be ahead of the change. I was at last week's meeting with Gus [Pichot] and Brett Gosper. They are marshaling people to be the architects of change and I am excited by that. There is a general recognition that we cannot find the best solution unless unions and clubs work together. We owe it to the game to ensure that happens" (GUARDIAN, 9/20).
