IRFU PROFIT BRINGS CONFIDENCE

IRISH rugby’s governing body is confident the four provinces will survive current financial pressures amid the crisis engulfing the English club game.

Wasps last month entered administration and were suspended from the

Gallagher Premiership, a week after divisional rivals Worcester were wound up.

The Irish Rugby Football

Union yesterday announced it has exceeded expectations for the year ended July 31 by recording an operating surplus of €5.9million but is forecasting deficits for each of the next three years.

But chief executive Kevin Potts (inset) is optimistic Connacht,

Leinster, Munster and

Ulster will pull through.

“It’s really important for professional rugby that you operate with the funds you have with certainty,” he said. “I don’t believe it will have any impact here as long as – and I believe it will be the case – the four provinces and ourselves operate our models on a sustainable basis.”

The better-than-expected results were largely attributed to fans returning to Ireland Test matches sooner than anticipated, the receipt of €18m in government assistance for Covid-19 income losses and €44.6m in respect of CVC Capital Partners’ Six Nations deal.