I dont really know where Ashcroft is coming from with regard to some of his comments and I think he should get his facts right first.
Rugby Union is far more reliant on backers than Rugby League and is subsidised by those backers to a far greater extent. Over £20 miilion of losses in a season between 12 Rugby Union clubs does not point to a healthy financial state at all. Indeed only Leicester and Northampton make a profit and the likes of Sale, Newcastle, Wasps, Saracens etc would all be bankrupt without their rich sugar daddies. Saracens have lost £13 million over the last 3 years, only got 5,000 to their last match and dont own a ground. Few clubs own their own grounds and some owners such as Hayes at Wasps already want out after years of losses. Kennedy at Sale too has indicated he is not prepared to fund them indefinately. This year promises to be even worse with dismal attendances so far. If more of the Rugby Union sugar daddies pull out then we could see a major decline in Rugby Union and collapse after collapse. Indeed it would make the demise of the like of Richmond, Bedford, Bristol etc look small fry.
Rugby Union is far more reliant on backers than Rugby League and is subsidised by those backers to a far greater extent. Over £20 miilion of losses in a season between 12 Rugby Union clubs does not point to a healthy financial state at all. Indeed only Leicester and Northampton make a profit and the likes of Sale, Newcastle, Wasps, Saracens etc would all be bankrupt without their rich sugar daddies. Saracens have lost £13 million over the last 3 years, only got 5,000 to their last match and dont own a ground. Few clubs own their own grounds and some owners such as Hayes at Wasps already want out after years of losses. Kennedy at Sale too has indicated he is not prepared to fund them indefinately. This year promises to be even worse with dismal attendances so far. If more of the Rugby Union sugar daddies pull out then we could see a major decline in Rugby Union and collapse after collapse. Indeed it would make the demise of the like of Richmond, Bedford, Bristol etc look small fry.