October 26 - Revenues from the commercial programme of the 2011 Rugby World Cup will deliver an estimated £80 million ($128 million/€92 million) net surplus boost to the game, according to the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The competition reached its conclusion on Sunday (October 23) New Zealand, with hosts the All Blacks lifting the trophy after beating France 8-7 in a tense final.
The tournament accounts for 95 per cent of IRB revenues, with the governing body investing £150 million ($241 million/€173 million) over the 2009-12 investment cycle to develop the game around the world.
Bernard Lapasset, Rugby World Cup Limited chairman, hailed the competition as an "exceptional rugby World Cup", saying it had positioned New Zealand as "a major event host, a superb tourism destination and a great country".
"It has also taken our sport to new audiences and has set the bar for future hosts," he added.
A study commissioned by MasterCard during the tournament has indicated that the event is due to deliver NZ$750 million ($598 million/£373 million) in direct economic benefits for New Zealand and over NZ$2 billion ($1.6 billion/£994 million) in long-term benefits.
Rugby is preparing to return to the Olympic Games, with the sport's seven-a-side format to be included in the programme at Rio 2016.
Source: www.insidethegames.biz
By David Owen