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The English Rugby Football Union's (RFU) investment in professional rugby and the development of the game at a grassroots level totaled **** million British pounds in the 2024 financial year. Meanwhile, overhead expenses reached ** million British pounds in that year. Based on figures reaching back to 2014, this was the most England's governing body of rugby union had ever spent on overheads. 

How was the RFU formed?

In the early **** century, the headmaster of Rugby School, Dr. Thomas Arnold, recognized the potential of a group sport activity to occupy the time of mischievous students, whilst simultaneously introducing positive ‘Christian’ values. This formed the backbone of a concept known as ‘muscular Christianity’. According to legend, a student named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball during a game of football, and the sport of rugby was born.

Participation in the sport grew especially in the United Kingdom and its colonies during the century; however, there was no universally recognized set of rules adhered to by the clubs that played. Accordingly, the Rugby Football Union was formed in 1871, initially as the world's governing body of rugby. This was a role it retained until 1886, when the International Rugby Football Board (now World Rugby) was established as the sport's rule-maker and, subsequently, the organizer of the Rugby World Cup.  

How does the RFU earn money?

In recent years, the largest share of the RFU's income has come from hospitality and catering, which totaled close to ** million British pounds in the 2024 financial year. That year, broadcasting revenue was the second-largest source of income for the union, having overtaken ticketing, the latter of which had brought in over ** million British pounds in 2023. Globally speaking, English rugby is one of the best performers off the pitch, with the England Rugby brand second only to the All Blacks in terms of brand value among national rugby unions as of 2023.