English clubs to get cash injection at time of crisis for Worcester and Wasps
English rugby top clubs are to receive a much needed £20m cash injection this season thanks to their eight year funding deal with Rugby Football Union but it will only be a temporary relief from mounting debt that has put Worcester Warriors on the brink of financial failure and Wasps struggling to repay a £35m bond.
Under the current Professional Game Agreement, signed in 2016 between Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL) and the RFU, clubs are guaranteed funding from the union each season. For the first four, they received a fixed amount of £25.5m, however, the pandemic had a devastating effect on income which is largely based on RFU revenue from Twickenham matches. As a result of internationals having to be played without crowds, the clubs received less than £10m last year as the Union suffered a loss of more than £20m.
With four England test matches taking place this November – against New Zealand, South Africa Argentina and Japan- the Union’s income will be significantly increased and each Twickenham test match is estimated to generate more than £10m thanks to hospitality sales, tickets revenue and television deal income.
As a result RugbyPass understand the clubs will share around £20m this season – double the figure received last season.
That money will be shared amongst the Premiership clubs with those supplying more players named in the England squad getting a greater slice of the income. While this is welcome news for the clubs, it comes with a warning that income is set to be halved again in 2023 thanks to the Rugby World Cup being staged in France.
The tournament means it will be an English season without four November tests and while the RFU will eventually get a share of profits from the tournament, that figure is unknown.
The RFU and PRL are understood to have started initial negotiations on a new funding agreement to come into place after 2024 when the clubs will be looking for substantial help moving forward. The current eight-year partnership between Twickenham and the Premiership clubs was expected to be worth over £200m and gave national head coach Eddie Jones greater access to players, a later deadline for selection, two additional training camps. The final figure will be well short of £200m when the deal end in two years.
The Premiership clubs are currently operating under a £5m salary cap, designed to restrict losses following the impact of the pandemic with squad sizes being cut to meet that target. An estimated 80 players were left without a contract at the end of last season.
Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to comments