Scottish Rugby reports record turnover

Scottish Rugby’s 2019 – Annual Report highlights:

– Historic net cash debt free.

– Turnover up £3.9m to a record £61.1m

– Most successful season ever for Scotland matches with over 400,000 fans attending six sold out games.

– Continued drive for sustainable clubs with £3.1m invested into grassroots.

– Retention of the Calcutta Cup – first time in 35 years

– Ground-breaking new sponsors and broadcast deal for Scotland Women

– Scotland 7s win Challenge Trophy at two rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

– Glasgow Warriors reach the Guinness PRO14 Final in front of a record crowd at Celtic Park

– 795 teams in the Mitsubishi Motors UK Schools & Youth Conference from 273 schools and clubs.

Press Release – 8 August 2019

Scottish Rugby is now in its best net cash position for over 25 years after another strong financial year for the organisation was confirmed in its 2018/2019 Annual Report.

Through broadcast, ticketing, commercial and additional rugby revenue streams Scottish Rugby achieved a record turnover of £61m, a rise of £3.9m since 2017/18.

There have been notable successes on and off the pitch in the past year with a raft of new sponsors aligning themselves with the sport at all levels, coupled with unprecedented support for the Scotland at the national stadium, with BT Murrayfield taking its run of sell-out matches to 14.

Over 400,000 fans attended the six sold out matches at the national stadium this year, making it the most successful ever season for total attendance at Scotland matches.

The increased revenue has been used to maintain record levels of investment into the domestic game in Scotland with a further £3.1million in the past 12 months, taking the money delivered to the grassroots game to £14.5million in the last five years, compared with £9.7m in the previous five.

The Scotland national team secured a dramatic draw in the Calcutta Cup match of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations and retained the historic trophy for the first time in 35 years.

In the women’s game, the national team secured the first bespoke front of shirt sponsor in its history in SP Energy Networks, as well as a new broadcast deal with BBC ALBA.

Scotland 7s won two Challenge Trophies in the 2018-19 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the Scotland Women 7s team had their first experience of the World Series and the only match win of the year by an invited team.

Glasgow Warriors had another strong Guinness PRO14 season and narrowly missed out on lifting the title at the final at Celtic Park, in front of a record crowd of almost 50,000 fans.

In the domestic game, boys and girls from 273 clubs and schools played regular, competitive rugby through the Mitsubishi Motors UK Schools & Youth Conferences.

Scottish Rugby Chairman, Colin Grassie, said: “I am pleased to report that since our last AGM our turnover has grown once again by £3.9m to a record £61m following an increase in our ticketing, broadcast, and other rugby income.

“We are also pleased to report that we are in our best net year-end cash position for over 25 years, as a direct result of balanced and sustainable financial management of the organisation – reducing debt while working to increase incomes and investment in all areas of the game. At its height, cash debt was at a level of £23m. We are now in a new era financially and in a far stronger position.”

Scottish Rugby President, Dee Bradbury, said: “Commercial success is vital in order to develop rugby in Scotland from the grassroots game to the international stage.

“As I have travelled the country in the past 12 months I have seen the commitment of club members, volunteers, officials, players and their families and friends and so it is hugely positive to be able to report the strong position Scottish Rugby finds itself in.

“It is important we continue to build sustainability into our game in Scotland and it is pleasing to see the volume of investment going into our club game to support the running of clubs and enhancing facilities. There is a sense of positivity about rugby in Scotland just now, on the eve of the World Cup, and I hope this will carry into the new season for the game at all levels.”

Scottish Rugby Chief Executive, Mark Dodson, said: “There has been considerable work across the whole organisation to put us in this strong financial and operational position.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors and partners for their continued support and I believe we are a good business to be involved with and work hard to deliver for all our stakeholders.

“The importance of a successful Scotland team cannot be under-estimated in underpinning our revenues and the incredible support the team has generated in recent years is hugely appreciated. To ensure we achieve success on the pitch it is vital our pathways to the elite level of the game remain competitive and credible.

“Therefore it is vital we have a vibrant and well-resourced club game at professional and domestic level. The current net cash position now creates a solid platform for us to continue our significant investment in all levels of the game to ensure our teams improve, our facilities reflect a modern, inclusive sport and we can continue our recent growth.”

The Annual Report was sent to all clubs last week and has been available on the Scottish Rugby website in advance of the governing body’s AGM at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 10 August.