Big accounts deficit gives Munster rugby chiefs food for thought

It would be easy to blame a lousy season on the pitch for the miserable reading Munster Rugby’s accounts made for delegates at last Thursday’s annual general meeting.

A forecast deficit of €1.95m for the year ending June 30, 2016 was attributed in the main to the lack of knockout rugby in both Europe and the PRO12 along with league games with unfavourable kick-off times during the World Cup.

Yet this was no unexpected financial downturn on foot of a poor season, rather the continuation of a declining trend in gate income coupled with rising player and staff costs.