Welsh Rugby Union chief Roger Lewis says the home nations need to look at how the money made from the British and Irish Lions tours is divided up.
bbc
The Lions are currently on a tour of Australia, culminating in a three-Test series against the Wallabies.
Lewis claims hosts Australia will bank most of the income generated by the nine games they host.
“This is the subject of much debate at the moment, in terms of the monies generated by the Lions,” said Lewis.
“The majority, by a country mile, of the revenue generated goes to the host country, so in this case it’s Australia.
“For the home unions, the shareholders of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, the numbers are relatively modest.
“You are in the low figures of millions to be shared between the four of us.
“So it is not a significant revenue generator.”
Lions tour have become a regular fixture in the international rugby calendar, with a tour every four years to either Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.
The Lions tour of Australia is reportedly expected to generate £40m for the Australian Rugby Union, while the Lions are expected to share a pot of £6m, generated largely by sponsorship.
All the profits made by the Lions are shared by Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
Wales have already contributed 15 players to the Lions, as well as coach Warren Gatland and seven backroom staff.
Lewis, who was with Wales on their two-Test tour of Japan before flying to Australia to follow the Lions, admits the tour to the Far East was a loss-maker, but is part of the “ecology” of international rugby.
“With the British and Irish Lions this is something we are gently looking at now,” said Lewis.
“The first thing is to understand all of the dynamics around it [a Lions tour], and I know the British and Irish Lions are doing that themselves and understanding what their costs are and the benefits.
“It is something that does need to be looked at now because the game has taken off since the last great Lions win in ’97.
“In 2001, 2005 and 2009 [Lions tours]… it was very different from the world we are in now, so the world has moved on and now is the time to look at it afresh.”
So what is he saying, scrap the B&I Lions. One of the last great traditions left in international rugby.
1 @ Lion4ever:
One would certainly hope not Lion4ever, think he is merely trying to make the point that some countries are making a whole lot more out of the Lions than others. I you consider all that Wales have contributed towards this Lions tour – so many players and coaches, medical staff etc then you do have to wonder if they are being milked by the host nations where the Lions tour to.
1 @ Lion4ever:
If those numbers are correct then its what £1.5m to be shared between four countries, no doubt it must cost Australia a lot of money to host the Lions or are the Lions paying their own way around the country – don’t know who pays for what with these tours – flights, hotel bills etc and don’t know if the numbers being mentioned are pure profit or revenue but even if Australia is fitting the bill the £40 million for them seems a lot more than what the others are getting. I guess what the Welshmen is saying is that they shouldn’t just be taken for a ride just because of the ‘history and romance’ of Lions tours but they need to make sure there is a more equitable share of the money. Why should the Welsh, Scottish Unions etc. be subsidizing Lions tours and the host nations coffers?
I agree that the tour money should be more evenly split. I just feel one has to look at what is not being said.
@ Bullscot:
When B&I Lions last toured SA a JV company was created to control all aspects of the tour, but I can confirm that the Unions HOSTING the games (GLRU, Bulls etc) made a LOT of money out of the tests.
Even more than a normal test, because the B&I Lions tests are “given” to the hosting province but “normal” tests (in the past) had to be bid for and if won, paid for up front sometimes 2-3 years before the game.
A tier 1 test nation international v SA had a reserve price of R5m in 2007.
Hence all the complaints when the likes of England and Wales send 3rd rate teams for June tests, and the hosting unions have paid a bucket full of cash for a game that when it materialises, nbobvody wants to pay to watch.
The “bid” system for tests has now been changed in SA with the tests now being “awarded” by SARU who will cover the overheads and will take a portion of the profits, with the balance of the profits going to the hosting Union.
Risk and reward scenario taken out of the equation but less money to be made by the provinces.
Also agree but to many of these situations in world sports
Boxing, the champ makes a killing and the challenger get scraps
Nations makes losses trying to hold major events – Olympics, soccer and Rugby world cups
Just seems all is not fair
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