RL World Cup generates $6.7m profit

By Ian Laybourn
AAP
1:00am Tue 01st April, 2014


The 2013 Rugby League World Cup generated a profit of more than STG3.7 million ($A6.7 million), organisers said on Monday.

Tournament director Nigel Wood told a press conference that the event delivered on all its pre-tournament ambitions and has provided a lasting legacy for the sport.

"We believe that the success factors identified before the opening game were comprehensively delivered against," Wood said.

"When the audit is complete, we will be reporting a profit in excess of STG3.7 million ($A6.7 million) from a turnover north of STG15 million ($A27.18 million), which will be passed to the International Federation to take the game forward."

It is expected that the final figure will enable the Rugby Football League to double the profit of STG2 million ($A3.62 million) generated by the 2008 World Cup.

The 2013 tournament drew an aggregate crowd of 458,463, including an international record attendance of 74,468 for the final between Australia and New Zealand at Old Trafford, won 30-2 by Australia.

Organisers reported eight sell-outs and eight stadium record crowds for rugby league matches.

Wow Im impressed, that exceeded my expectations.

But we need to know where the money will be spent. The profits from the last world cup evaporated and we didn't trace them.

I'd love to see X amount given to Y country for Z competition. And grants given out. A small amount of money can help equip many small nations and teams.

Id also like to see alot of it dedicated to furthering our ambitions of becoming official sports in nations.