Drop goal for rugby federations as Heineken Cup revenues rise to €22m

THE six rugby federations that run the Heineken Cup shared €22 million in revenues from the competition in 2006, an increase of €5m.

Newly filed accounts for European Rugby Cup (ERC), the Dublin-based company that organises the Heineken Cup, reveals that the six federations shared €22m in the year to end June 2006. That is up from €17.5m in the previous year and the higher payout to the unions reflects a rise in revenues.

The revenues are shared across the Irish, English, French, Scottish, Welsh and Italian rugby unions according to how many teams they provide to the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. England and France get a higher share of the revenues.