Rugby World Cup chiefs reveal £3.7m profit

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup has generated a profit of more than £3.7 million ($6.2m, 4.5m euros), organisers announced Monday.Tournament director Nigel Wood said the event, staged mainly in England and won by Australia with a crushing 34-2 victory over New Zealand in the final at football giants Manchester United's Old Trafford ground on November 30, had fulfilled all its financial and sporting objectives."We believe that the success factors identified before the opening game were comprehensively delivered," Wood told a press conference at Salford, near Manchester, on Monday."When the audit is complete, we will be reporting a profit in excess of £3.7m from a turnover north of £15m which will be passed to the International Federation to take the game forward."Officials are optimistic that the final figure will allow England's governing Rugby Football League to double the profit of £2m generated by the 2008 World Cup in Australia.In total, the 2013 edition drew an aggregate crowd of 458,463 including an international record attendance of 74,468 for the final, with eight sell-outs and eight stadium record crowds for rugby league matches.Tournament general manager Sally Bolton also said there had been a huge financial windfall for host cities, claiming Cardiff gained £8.4m on the back of staging the opening ceremony and London £12.3m from the semi-final double-header at Wembley. Source: AFP