Touchline - Dec 2010:Layout 1 03/12/2010 13:08 Page 1 DECEMBER 2010 / issue 130 RFU THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOUCHLINE RFU AND RFUW RFU’S STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE THE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION last strength of the Union’s year-round business sheet continue to grow and net worth month (November) announced its starting to come through, with our increase. We have had a strong year of annual results for the year ended June Conference and Events, London Marriott trading from all of our businesses and for the 30, 2010. Hotel Twickenham and Virgin Active Classic full year show revenues of £112m, the highest In summary the highlights for the year Health Club business jointly delivering ever with the equivalent match programme. were: £10.4m in 2009/10, up from £3m.” “At the same time it is crucial to note that - Turnover decreased £7.2m from £119.2m Investment in the grassroots of the game the RFU’s core purpose is not to make profits to £112m has been maintained despite the pressure on but to invest in growing and developing the - Operating profit decreased by £6m from costs caused by the recession and Eastwood game at all levels so over that cycle we are £31.8m to £25.8m added: “We have continued our substantial not looking to maximise shareholder return - Profit before tax decreased by £7.1m from investment in Community Rugby which in but ensure we are building the rugby £9m to £1.9m total was approximately £21m. The increase infrastructure for the future. - Retained loss £1.1m against retained has been boosted by two major Government- “This has seen £22.8m invested in clubs profit of £6.2m in 2008/9 funded programmes: the Community Rugby facilities over the year across all levels of the - Net worth increased by £11.7m to £162.4m Coaches scheme and the game, with the RFU helping to - £22.8m invested in grassroots club Approved Coaching improve pitches, facilities Centres which received clubhouses and Nick Eastwood RFU Finance Director Nick Eastwood said: funding in 2009/10 of changing rooms, “Although down on a strong 2008-09, the £2.4m and £1.2m floodlighting, disability £10m for the Premiership Rugby clubs, which past year was in line with expectations. Total respectively. These are a access, ground includes fees and bonuses paid to England revenue was £112m, down £7.2m from very significant addition maintenance equipment, senior and Saxons players, and £2.3m invested £119.2m in 2008-9 but this was mainly due to our coaching and heating systems, kitchens in the RFU Championship, with £800,000 to having three instead of four Investec coach development and the like. going to clubs in the Anglo-Welsh LV= Cup. Internationals and two instead of three RBS resources and we are “Our investment in the “We must be mindful that economic 6 Nations home games, which meant a grateful to the professional game has challenges lie ahead and that we must invest £7.9m decrease in ticket income, from Government for their been some £25m in total. wisely. The RFU has one goal as the governing £29.2m to £21.3m. continued support.” We invested £11.5m in the body of rugby union in England and that is to “Despite the Twickenham match RFU Chief Executive Elite Rugby Department, support and develop the game at all levels schedule and the economic environment, John Steele said: “The which covers all England across the country. This means putting rugby we delivered a strong financial strong financial teams and their at the heart of everything we do and ensuring performance, thanks largely to the RFU’s performance of the management, Elite that we not only drive our revenues as a cost reduction programme agreed early in past year in a period of Coaching, Refereeing and business but consider carefully how we invest 2009 to respond to the challenges posed by economic downturn Sports Science and to maximise the benefits to the game.” the global recession. has seen the strength Medicine. You can see the whole report at: “Last year’s results clearly showed the of the RFU’s balance “There was also funding of rfu.com/annual report SUNDAY TIMES SPORTSWOMAN OF THE AZZURI RETURN THE YEAR Julia Hutton TO TWICKENHAM England’s Rugby World Cup star Margaret Alphonsi has been named TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR RBS 6 NATIONS MATCH Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year. ITALY will be the first The 26-year-old England and visitors to Twickenham Saracens flanker picked up the Stadium in the 2011 RBS accolade at a star-studded reception in 6 Nations championship central London, having fought off when they take on opposition from six of Britain’s finest Martin Johnson’s female athletes: world champion England on Saturday gymnast Beth Tweddle, cyclist Emma 12 February. Pooley, Commonwealth swimmer Fran The Azzuri have gone Halsall, Olympian skeleton rider Amy from strength to strength Williams and heptathlete Jessica Ennis. since joining the Six After nominations were released, it Nations competition in was the public vote that 2000 and will be looking to overwhelmingly crowned Alphonsi build on an already growing Sportswoman of the Year. She won the Maggie Alphonsi reputation as they prepare heart of the public during September’s for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The current Italian squad boasts some world-class talent, Women’s Rugby World Cup, which saw a record and coach Nick Mallett will be looking to the likes of Leicester Tigers Martin makes it so special is that it is decided by the breaking 30,000 people attend the tournament Castrogiovanni, Stade Français’s Sergio Parrise and Mirco Bergamasco of Racing Métro to public vote, and that means a lot to me. It just over five match days. inspire his side when they face an England team who impressed during the recent Investec shows what a fantastic rugby community is out Alphonsi has 49 England caps and won Internationals. there. national acclaim for her ferocious tackling as Tickets for England v Italy at Twickenham are on sale now with 50% discounts for U16s, “I am, however, only in this position because England reached the final, her second available from www.rfu.com/tickets. The match provides one of the final opportunities to of my fantastic 25 World Cup team mates who successive final appearance. She was named watch England compete on the international stage ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in all played a massive part in this success. Woman of the Match in the tournament opener New Zealand. Unfortunately we didn’t win the world cup but against Ireland and also went on to be England Team Manager Martin Johnson said: “There is always a great deal of we got very close and we played some great shortlisted as Player of the Tournament. expectation surrounding the RBS 6 Nations, and this championship will be no different. rugby along the way.” Alphonsi said: “Picking up this award is a The Italians will be a big test for us when they come to Twickenham, and its up to us to Alphonsi was also shortlisted alongside her huge shock because the calibre of other make sure we continue the form we showed in the recent Investec Internationals, and teammates for Team of the Year. athletes I was up against was so high. What rise to that challenge.” 1 Touchline - Dec 2010:Layout 1 03/12/2010 13:08 Page 2 HQ NEWS RUGBY – A SPORT THAT DELIVERS The Rugby Football Union has demonstrated this season that rugby The stylish, French fashion brand has tailored an exclusive collection of remains a strong proposition in the commercial marketplace with bespoke formalwear for the England teams as part of a six year multiple new and renewal partnerships signed in the last few weeks. partnership. Deals span from the drinks business to fashion, insurance, hotels and In addition, high end international brand Tag Heuer is now the official luxury goods. watch of England Rugby Renewal deals have been confirmed with Nintendo, Wolf Blass Wines, At the grassroots end of the game, Marsh has extended their long Bollinger Champagne. term involvement with the RFU and become an official partner of the Nintendo UK has extended its partnership with the RFU through to community game. The insurance experts will from this season be 2012. The innovation games brand enjoys a range of rights on a match supporting key programmes including Scrum Factory and the RFU day including a popular interactive environment in the West Car Park. Leadership programme to support grassroots rugby and England’s Wolf Blass, part of the Fosters Group, has renewed its contract with 1600 clubs. the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to be the Official Wine Supplier to the For the younger rugby fans, leading flavoured milk drink brand Yazoo RFU and England Rugby. The two year deal will take forward and extended its RFU Yazoo Primary School Programme contract for a develop existing rights up to June 2012. further two years, cementing the brands commitment to supporting Bollinger Champagne has renewed again, this time for 5 years. grassroots sports in the UK until 2012. Bollinger is the official champagne of England rugby with some And finally, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) signed a four year associated rights including a facility in the West Car Park at Twickenham partnership deal with RFU. The non-exclusive partnership makes IHG an Stadium which has become a match day favourite in recent years. official hotel supplier to the RFU and will assist the England team and Diageo Great Britain strengthened its relationship with rugby for its RFU staff when travelling.