Rugby: €-4.1m deficit for New Zealand Rugby and a turnover of €103.5m in 2019

New Zealand Rugby (NZR), the governing body of rugby in New Zealand, has posted a deficit of NZ$7.4m (€-4.1m) for the financial year 2019 (deficit of NZ$1.8m in 2018), according to the body on 30/04/2020, a result "sustained by healthy cash reserves which were boosted by the DHL New Zealand Lions Series in 2017 (see below)."

"With this context the cash reserves of NZ$93m (€51.5m) had provided a vital buffer against the initial economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," adds the body, which posted revenues of NZ$187m (€103.5m), down 1% compared to in 2018 (NZ$189.5m) "but represented a 40% increase when compared to the last Rugby World Cup year in 2015."

Broadcasting revenues were down 21.7%, from NZ$73.3m to NZ$57.4m (€31.7m). Sponsorship revenues amounted to NZ$72.9m (€40m, +7%), while Matchday revenues were down 41% to NZ$16.3m (€9m).

• "The 2017 DHL New Zealand Lions Series generated massive interest both here in New Zealand and globally and that's reflected in the numbers, but it needs to be put in the context of being a one-in-twelve-year-event," said Steve Tew, when presenting…