Originally Posted by
Bakkies
Even allowing for the fact the Wallabies’ Test against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday is likely to attract less than 30,000 spectators, Rugby Australia is on target to meet its budgeted bottom line of a profit in excess of $4 million.
That is very much a forward estimate, given RA historically does not announce its financial results until the annual general meeting in April. And RA, which last April announced a $3.7m surplus, is bunkering down for its toughest year of the four-year World Cup cycle next year when the only Tests played on Australian soil will be a Bledisloe Cup at the new Perth stadium, and a Pumas Test in Brisbane.
With the professional arm of RA — the Wallabies and the four Super Rugby franchises — responsible for generating all of its commercial revenue, a crowd of less than 30,000 is of serious concern to the national body, even if the Springboks are slightly overexposed in Brisbane. This will be their fourth Test at Suncorp Stadium since 2013.