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Dear Members of the Australian Rugby Community,
I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the financial results and business highlights of the Australian Rugby Union for 2014, which were presented to the ARU Annual General Meeting earlier today.
I'm also pleased to let you know that we'll be asking for your input into our next five year strategy for Australian Rugby, to coincide with our next broadcast cycle from 2016-2020.
Work is already underway on developing the plan that will shape the future of Rugby in Australia.
In coming months, the ARU will embark on an extensive consultation process with our Rugby stakeholders and fans so we can capture your views and ideas on the future direction and priorities for Rugby in Australia.
We're committed to ensuring you are up to date on the strategy as it progresses so keep an eye on our website and social media channels to find out on how you can be involved in coming months.
2014 was a year of achievement in challenging financial circumstances, when we undertook measures to set ourselves up to have a sustainable future.
Some key points from our 2014 Annual Report include:
- An underlying surplus of $0.7m for 2014 for the ARU business, however when we consider our full financial result including additional funding to the Rebels; investment of $3.7m in direct grants to Member Unions to develop grassroots Rugby; and a further $4.3m funding to deliver ARU programs nationally, the ARU recorded an overall deficit of $6.3m. This is a similar result to years when we don't have a major tour such as the British & Irish Lions.
- Overall Rugby participation grew by 12% in 2014 compared to 2013 - with more than 120,000 kids taking part in National Rugby Week; the continued popularity of Sevens including a 66% increase in the number of girls and women playing Sevens (13,488); while senior club Rugby participation rates remained steady with growth of less than 1% compared to 2013.
- Further improvement to the pathway to help players move from grassroots or club Rugby to elite Rugby, including the launch of the Junior Gold Cup; an improved Under 20s program; and the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, which included law variations.
- Investment of $23.6m to Super Rugby clubs. The 2014 Asteron Life Super Rugby season was the most successful ever for Australian teams, including the first-ever Super Rugby title for the NSW Waratahs and 40 wins for Australian teams, up from 37 in 2013 and 32 in 2012.
- A Gold Medal for Australia in Sevens at the Youth Olympics; a Bronze Medal for the national Men's team at the Commonwealth Games; and the national Women's team retained its number two world ranking at the end of 2014.
- A three-nil series victory for the Qantas Wallabies against France and a new coach appointed to lead the team to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
- Introduced flexible player contracts and player welfare initiatives including the appointment of a Concussion Specialist to advise on our approach to concussion at all levels of the game.
- Growth for television ratings for domestic Test matches and undertook significant negotiations regarding Rugby's new media rights deal, to come into effect from 2016-2020.
For more information:
- 2014 ARU Annual Report
- Media Release: Fans and Rugby Community to Provide Input for Australian Rugby's Next Five Year Strategy.
Thank you for your contribution to Rugby in the past year and we look forward to your input as we create our next five year strategy.
Regards
Bill Pulver
CEO
Australian Rugby Union
Forgot to include the bullet point "how much more financial assistance, player pool to choose from, training and special coaching advantages, foremost assistance from Fox Sports and easier travel scheduling can we give the Tahs- I mean Wallabies?"
Tried to find the funding made available to each state for community rugby and either it's not there or I'm looking in the wrong place, anyway heard last week that Rugby WA will receive around 250 000k from the ARU.
That won't go too far, also heard that Rugby WA has the highest number of ARU registered rugby players due to Eastern states refusing to pay the new insurance levy so you would think we would get a bigger slice of the pie.
The community rugby funding page in the minutes is very vague for some reason.
Wests Scarborough 1st Grade juggernaut has played finals rugby each and every year since its inception and continues this remarkable feat yet again this season and unbelievably it's still rolling on and as an added little circle jerk for the masses Wests actually hold the record for the current longest unbroken finals record.
Interesting reading as usual. The key things I took out from it were:
1. Participation rates are up 12%, which puts paid to the arguments about five franchises weakening rugby in Australia.
2. WA receives an allocation of just $200K from the ARU. This is less than every other State/Territory except Tasmania; and significantly less than Qld ($1.4m) and NSW ($2.3m).
3. The Rebels are allocated $325K in addition to the $2.5m loan facility they have been granted by the ARU.
4. Perth-based Geoff Stooke attended every single Board meeting, whereas Sydney/Canberra-based Ann Sherry could manage only 4/7.
5. One of the ARU's key achievements for 2014 was the distribution of 25,000 gold berets during the winter test series against France.
Point 5. is, naturally, my favourite stat of all - go Bill!!!
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
If Pulver is interested in getting opinions and feedback he's going to have to shut down their email account from the abuse from some disgruntled WA persons including demands of explanation on their management of certain issues ie KB/Link saga and KHunt and drug sagas and all the money readily shunted over. But no doubt that's not very constructive enough!
He didn't say anything about stealing Ewen's dummy?
My 5c is to give the ABC the rights for the ARC.. So everybody, not just Fox subscribers, can watch rugby at some level..
cheers auss...
fabricarti diem punc
Agree with you both about the ABC and SBS. But they don't have very deep pockets and rugby is all about da money these days it seems :-((
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
One other thing the ARU could do and many have said the same on here is Wallabies get match payments only.. With tour and camp payments... All players get S15 payments with no top ups and when selected they get the extra not an annual top up as many are not playing but still paid...
ARU in $6.3m loss for 2014
AAP
April 20, 2015, 9:28 pm
The Australian Rugby Union has announced a $6.3 million loss for 2014.
Releasing its annual report for last year on Monday the ARU said it had achieved an underlying business surplus of $700,000 but an overall deficit "in a year that focused on driving a sustainable future for the game, through direct grants to member unions and the delivery of national programs."
The ARU said it would now seek feedback from rugby fans and stakeholders to "drive its next five year strategy and future investment at all levels of the game".
ARU chairman Michael Hawker said the process to collate feedback is already underway, with CEOs of member unions and Super Rugby clubs taking part in a strategy workshop on Monday.
"With our new broadcast deal nearly finalised, we're confident we will have a secure financial future for our game. We see our strategy moving from providing financial security to judicious investment to grow rugby, and we're keen for our fans and the Rugby community to contribute to our future strategy," he said.
The ARU said participation in the game had grown by 12 per cent in 2014 while it had invested $3.7 million in direct grants to member unions and $4.3 million was provided in funding for the delivery of ARU programs nationally.
CEO Bill Pulver's salary was listed as $735,885.
The report said he did not take incentive payments he was also entitled to during 2013 and 2014. (seriously, wtf for???)
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...loss-for-2014/
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Is it worth us doing a combined TWF submission to the consultation? I'm happy to manage it.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
the model is not sustainable long term. we need a salary cap.
Non sunt multiplicanda entia sine necessitate