Good to see teh games income increasing strongly despite difficult fianncial times for the country. The Rugby Football League recorded a pre-tax profit for an eighth successive year in 2009, which enabled the governing body to make record payments to clubs. Figures published on Wednesday show that clubs received a total of £5.3million from central funds - £3million more than in 2008 - from a turnover of £21.9million, the largest in the RFL's history. The record turnover was 50% higher than the previous record of £14.5million in 2008 and was largely due to increased broadcast revenue and grants from Sport England to increase participation at grassroots level. RFL chairman Richard Lewis said: "The sport continues to thrive despite the challenging economic climate. "The enhanced contracts we negotiated with our broadcast partners Sky and the BBC have enabled the RFL to provide clubs with the resources they need to operate successfully in difficult trading conditions." The accounts, which show that the RFL recorded a profit before tax of £13,000 last year, were presented to clubs at their annual meeting at Halifax. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... L_RFL.html

Good to see teh games income increasing strongly despite difficult fianncial times for the country. The Rugby Football League recorded a pre-tax profit for an eighth successive year in 2009, which enabled the governing body to make record payments to clubs. Figures published on Wednesday show that clubs received a total of £5.3million from central funds - £3million more than in 2008 - from a turnover of £21.9million, the largest in the RFL's history. The record turnover was 50% higher than the previous record of £14.5million in 2008 and was largely due to increased broadcast revenue and grants from Sport England to increase participation at grassroots level. RFL chairman Richard Lewis said: "The sport continues to thrive despite the challenging economic climate. "The enhanced contracts we negotiated with our broadcast partners Sky and the BBC have enabled the RFL to provide clubs with the resources they need to operate successfully in difficult trading conditions." The accounts, which show that the RFL recorded a profit before tax of £13,000 last year, were presented to clubs at their annual meeting at Halifax. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... L_RFL.html

This is fantastic news. Evidence that the RLWC, Magic Weekend and Salary Caps all work?

If you listen carefully you can hear Leaguefan grinding his teeth.

i wonder where all the idiots who always bag the RFL are

im happy with the leaders RL has in england and australia

Agreed, sometimes the judgement on the ideas is a bit off, but they tend to learn from their mistakes and put them right.

You must take into account that a fair chunk of this record revenue was unearned income in the form of part of the grant from Sport England. Following on from that, the record distribution of monies was the onward distribution of those Sport England grants (none of which go to pro or semi-pro clubs).

the RFL put in a lot of hard work for those funds

i remember reading somewhere that the governing body was very happy with the results RL was getting from the funding

and of course it will be far less than union or soccer get

I don't dispute any of that. Just pointing out that it's income that doesn't come from RFL events or activities. It may be that we will get nowhere near the current amount in the next round of grants as the government looks to cut public funding everywhere.

It's a disgrace.

The sport england funding has increased by about £2.5m per year, taking it up to £29.4m. This compares favourably with Union who get £30.7m news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 786594.stm The only sports that get more than Rugby League are Union and cricket.

The sport england funding has increased by about £2.5m per year, taking it up to £29.4m. This compares favourably with Union who get £30.7m news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 786594.stm The only sports that get more than Rugby League are Union and cricket.

But when the cuts do come if RL can show what it has done with the funding hopefully we can justify our money.
tbh the RFL still has its biggest wildcard to play yet.. moving amateur/junior rugby to summer.. participation numbers will BOOM in all areas, especially things like touch rugby imo and the RFL will look absolutely fantastic in the eyes of Sport England

Let's hope so because in Sport England's last participation survey RL numbers had dropped significantly by about 30%, not that I believe that to be true but if SE believe their own statistics then it could impact very negatively on us.

Oh go on, please do develop this.

I still won't be impressed untill they can make good, simple, solid decisions to improve the game.

It's probably because of the super duper league, the foreign imports, the of British coaches, the summer game, the magic weekend in Edinburgh, playing finals in football stadia, the lack of a flat cap on the logo.

1) this is absolutely not unearned income. Arguably the RFL works hardest, with the greatest resource, to secure this funding. It is granted on the basis of the increase in participation promised to Sport England. This is monitored and recorded quarterly. This is perhaps the hardest earned and most accountable income the RFL has

2) this money is ALL for grassroots development and for the creation of pathways from junior rugby into the elite game. It benefits pro clubs partly by running the local, regional and national elite development centres, and in providing the majority of funding for the community coaches (many of whom are employed by pro clubs, using RFL-distributed Sport England money.

3) the money is also being used to grow the sport. For example, there are over 750 kids in the south west who have played rugby league at school this year. This is really important for the long term development of the game. It increases the talent pool, giving us a shot at competing with the ozzies at the top level. It increases the fanbase, bringing in money through turnstiles over the long term. It increases the overall spectator base, making us more attractive to sponsors and to broadcasters.

RFL's Development Department is one of its crowning glories, and the money it brings in and then spends in expanding the game is a stand-out achievement. Per-player, we are the best funded sport in England, and should be really proud of that.

well said, they have to work hard to get grants, and prove they are spending it well. Well done RFL.

So record turnover and profits don't come from good, simple, solid decisions to improve?

Perhaps you can give us your 3 good, solid, simple decisions to improve the game that the RFL have ignored.

Agreed, we pan them for most things, but on this we have to say well done.