BRITISH ISLES TOUR HAS BEEN BOOST TO RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 74, 26 July 1950, Page 3

BRITISH ISLES TOUR HAS BEEN BOOST TO RUGBY

From a financial viewpoint New Zealand Rugby should receive a tremendous boost as a result of the tour of the British Isles team. All available evidence now points to the tour showing a record profit, possibly between £25,000 and £35,000 writes Corinthian in the Dominion. Since it has always been the policy of the N.Z.R.U. to put back as much of these profits as possible into the game, unions, mainly those who have been “in the red,” can look forward to brighter times on the financial side.

Lack of publicity over a number of years gave the public little idea of how the New Zealand Rugby Union’s finances were distributed. This has been rectified. Common Knowledge

It is now common knowledge that of the union’s assets set at £37,000 last year, almost £25,000 was on loan to unions at 'most reasonable terms and loans have since increased.

According to a review of the finances of the union given by Mr S. S. Dean on his retirement from the chairmanship three years ago, more than £IOO,OOO has accrued to the funds of affiliated unions from ground rents for New Zealand matches, grants for school football, and fostering the game generally in 20 years.

It is only from major tours of this country that the N.Z.R.U. is able to build up its finances. The only other main source' of revenue is the North-South match. Tijhere are some years when the union runs at a loss

It was the N.Z. Army team which helped to place South African Rugby on its feet financially after World War 1. The visit of the South African team in 1921 helped to boost the N.Z.R.U. finances from £9OOO to £14,500. It was mainly the tour of the British team in 1930, which netted £21,000, that placed the N.Z.R.U. in its tremendously strong position. This was further boosted by the tour of the Springboks in 1937, which netted £17,000.

The 27 unions affiliated with the N.Z.R.U. have approximately 2500 teams and 50,000 players. The steady improvement to grounds, accommodation and facilities bear ample testimony to the work of the unions and the assistance many have received from the parent body.

Some of these grounds are among the finest, recreational areas in the Dominion. Several are the property of the unions. Costs Are High Costs of administering sport are high, “and the financial side cannot be too closely watched. But all unions have' foremost in their consideration the welfare of the players and the public. The improving of accommodation and facilities is proceeding It came as a shock to the N.Z.R.U. to find that the cost of bringing the British Isles team to this country would involve the huge sum of £47,000. But fears as to the financial success of the tour are now eliminated. From the residue grants will be made to unions which did not have matches against the visitors. This will be the only major tour till 1957, when the Springboks are due, so that the N.Z.R.U. will require to have a useful surplus on hand to carry on during the intervening years, which involve commitments in connection with sending teams to Australia and the British Isles.