Rugby star’s firm’s profits race ahead

Rugby star Tommy Bowe may have spent much of last season on the sidelines, but accumulated profits at his sports firm raced ahead to almost €300,000.

Accounts lodged with the Companies House in the UK show that Tommy Bowe Sports Ltd saw its accumulated profits rise 85%, from £131,491 to £243,498 (€157,569 to €291,789), in the 12 months to Mar 31, 2013.

The firm’s cash pile decreased from £141,052 to £57,755 as monies owed by debtors increased from zero to €210,457.

Bowe is set to return to action at the Six Nations early next month after a long period out with a groin injury, one of many injuries which have befallen him over the past year.

The 29-year old didn’t get to play until late in autumn 2012 for Ulster having undergone surgery the previous April to remove a haematoma that had pushed into his kidney.

The try scorer’s comeback was short-lived with a serious knee injury sustained in Ulster’s home date with Northampton Saints in the Heineken Cup ruling him out for four months.

In a recent interview, Bowe said: “Being injured as a rugby player is probably one of the most difficult things; it’s probably the hardest part of being a professional rugby player.”

Part of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam-winning team, one of Bowe’s commercial deals involves a Tommy Bowe shoe range for Monaghan firm, Buddha Brand Industry.

Bowe enhanced his earning power by featuring in the triumphant British and Irish Lions tour of Australia last year.

As well as that, he also fronts a clothing collection.

The figures for Tommy Bowe Sports Ltd show that the money owed to creditors for more than one year amounted to €134,605. The value of the company’s stocks remained static at €222,750.