Rugby World Cup to bring in £869m from international visitors

THIS YEAR’S RUGBY WORLD CUP is set to have its biggest-ever economic impact on a host nation, according to research conducted by EY ahead of the tournament’s kick-off at Twickenham on 18 September.

England is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1999, attracting about 466,000 spectators – more than any previous World Cup – and injecting an extra £869m in direct expenditure.

Some £85m has been spent on infrastructure, including an extensive media complex at Twickenham, in the 13 venues across eleven host cities.

Overall, EY said, the World Cup will contribute up to £2.2bn of output to the economy, translating into an additional £982m to national GDP.

It is hoped investment in developing facilities and building capacity will increase participation in the sport, with £10m being made available to amateur clubs across the country to improve their clubhouses and pitches.

Look out for Financial Director‘s interview with RFU CFO and England 2015 managing director Steve Brown later this week.