SARU exceed profit forecasts

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) made a small operating profit – exceeding forecasts – in a very difficult economic environment, to record a fourth successive year of profit.

SARU reported a group profit before taxation of R6.6 million for the year ended 31 December 2014, R5m ahead of budget. A deferred taxation charge of R4.7m resulted in after tax profit declined to R1.9m.

Jurie Roux, chief executive officer (CEO) of SARU, said that rugby – like any South African business – remained under continuing financial constraints.

"The consistent theme over recent years has been the extreme financial pressure being felt in all corners of the game.

"Once again, we went on a cost-cutting exercise in mid-year which allowed us to report a small surplus in a very tough financial year. It was the fourth successive year of surplus for our organisation – the longest consecutive surplus period in the past 22 years," he said.

Roux said that he expected economic conditions to remain unchanged in the short term but hoped that new broadcast and sponsorship agreements from 2016 would ease some of the pressures.

SARU Group revenue rose to R821 million, slightly up from the 2013 level of R799 million, due mainly to an eight percent increase in sponsorship revenue, while group operating expenditure increased by a modest three percent.

The Group's financial position remained reasonably healthy, said Roux, with total equity of R82 million.

Cash flow improved significantly and as a result a net cash balance of R11 million was reported at 2014 year-end, compared to a net bank overdraft position of R25 million at the end of the previous financial year.