French clubs top European cash league

IN A report which underlines just why the Top 14 is capable of attracting the best players from all over the world, it has been revealed 11 of the biggest clubs in Europe in terms of revenue are French.

Reigning Top 14 champions and four-time Heineken Cup winners Toulouse unsurprisingly occupy top spot in the analysis published by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, having generated €33.5 million during the season before last (2009/10).

French champions Clermont Auvergne are second on €23.8m, just ahead of Leicester Tigers, whose high standing (€22.6m) is down to the fact they boast the highest average attendance (21,096) of Europe’s elite.

The three other English sides in the top 15 are Northampton Saints (11th; €14.7m), Harlequins (14th; €12.9m) and Gloucester (15th; €11.4m).

Financial information on Irish and Scottish sides was not available but Munster and Leinster ranked fourth (15,430) and sixth (13,707) respectively in terms of average attendances.

Dan Jones, of Deloitte, commented: “The dominance of the French clubs in generating revenue is largely due to greater commercial income, primarily as a result of more lucrative sponsorship deals as opposed to bigger attendances. Increasing revenue generation is critical for top clubs in a fiercely competitive pan-European, and indeed global, market for playing talent.”

Indeed, Jones feels that while clubs are aware of the importance of investing in their stadia and establishing greater links within the community to attract more fans, greater attention needs to be paid to rising wage bills.

“The ongoing challenge for all clubs is managing their cost base relative to revenue — a common issue for clubs within other sports,” he said.

“The growth of clubs’ costs through the professional era has matched or outstripped the impressive revenue growth and, whilst there is a welcome degree of regulatory control on the largest cost (player salaries) through the salary cap in England and France, the vast majority of clubs are delivering operating losses year on year.”

Top 15 Clubs (Revenue)

1. Toulouse, 2. Clermont Auvergne, 3. Leicester, 4. Stade Francais, 5. Racing Metro 92, 6. Toulon, 7. Brive, 8. Montpellier, 9. Biarritz, 10. Perpignan, 11. Northampton, 12. Bayonne, 13. Castres, 14. Harlequins, 15. Gloucester.

Top 15 Clubs (match attendance average)

1. Leicester, 2. Toulouse, 3. Clermont Auvergne, 4. Munster, 5. Bayonne, 6. Leinster, 7. Toulon, 8. Northampton, 9. Perpignan, 10. Gloucester, 11. Harlequins, 12. Montpellier, 13. La Rochelle, 14. Bath, 15. Stade Francais.