Profits pumped into development

The International Rugby Board (IRB) and the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) will pump the profits from the 2003 Rugby World Cup into the development of Rugby Union. The facts and figures of the tournament, hosted by the ARU, were released in Dublin on Monday night.

Both the Host Union and the IRB have reported healthy profits and said that the tournament had been widely recognised as the finest ever.

A statement issued by the IRB said that the accomplishment of the event was reflected in the commercial success of the tournament, which realised a net profit in excess of £64 million (US$117,422 million), an increase of 36.81 percent on RWC '99.

"The commercial success was accompanied by record gates and strengthening commercial relationships," read the IRB statement.

The 2003 version of the RWC took in gate receipts of £79.6 million (US$146,2 million) and after tournament costs of £49.2 million (US$90.4 million), leaving the organisers with a profit of £30.4 million (US$55.8 million).

The total commercial receipts, which includes broadcasting receipts, sponsorships and other commercials revenues on top of the gate takings, amounted to £81.8 million (US$150.3 million). After deducting costs such as the share of the tournament surplus (£16.5 million - US$30.3 million) and RWC costs (£34 million - US$62.5 million), it left the IRB with a total surplus in excess of £64 million (US$117,422 million).

The international body also recognised that the tournament was not without its difficulties, most of which centred around the "inability of certain nations to field their strongest teams, to compete effectively on the field and to raise sufficient monies to be able to meet costs".

"Whilst this latter point was aided, for the first time, by participation fees, it is recognised that greater attention must be paid to closing the gap between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'," the statement said.

Another key aspect of RWC 2003 was the anti-doping programme - the most extensive in the history of the game.

"In all, a total of 511 doping controls were conducted, 307 of which were no-notice out of competition tests and 204 in competition. These controls included tests for the new drug THG. Every single test proved negative," the IRB said.

Other key statistics reveal that the number of Unions participating went from 69 in 1999 to 83 in 2003, while the total gate numbers (people through the turnstiles) went up from 1,6-million to 1,9-million.

The tournament was televised in 194 countries, which is down on the '99 figure of 214.

* Meanwhile, acting ARU Chief Executive Officer Matthew Carroll says the healthy financial generated by the RWC secures the long-term financial security of Australian rugby.

"The ARU Board has already determined that part of the surplus will be invested for the future health of the game, while we have already begun funding strategic legacy projects, such as a junior participation campaign and the EdRugby program which continues to grow in all states," said Carroll.

"In a sense, the release of these figures closes this very successful chapter in Australian sporting history. The Tournament embraced the nation and was made possible by unprecedented cooperation between the ARU, the IRB, the Australian rugby community, state and federal governments, volunteers and of course, the people of Australia."