THE TOP 14 and Pro D2 seasons were officially launched in Paris earlier this week, ahead of the upcoming first weekend of the 2015/16 campaign.
The LNR, who run the professional leagues in France, have released the figures reported by each club as their provisional operating budgets and they make for eye-watering reading once again.
Toulouse remain at the top of the pile at €30.9 million, although their overall budget has been reduced by almost €4 million since last season.
Beneath the former giants of European rugby, Clermont have upped their outlay to €29.2m to remain second spot on the list, with reigning Top 14 champions Stade Français newcomers to the top three after seeing their budget rise by more than €2m to €27.7m.
The average budget in the Top 14 has been boosted by more than €400k to €21.5m, according to the LNR’s list of provisional figures.
Newly-promoted Agen are bottom of the list with a relatively meagre €11.6m, while Paul O’Connell’s Toulon are fourth with a budget of €26.9m.
Mourad Boudjellal’s club have been known to use outside business to cover the cost of a portion of certain players’ wages in the form of commercial and sponsorship deals, however, meaning this figure may not be a wholly accurate reflection of the truth.
Indeed, the numbers for other clubs may not accurately reflect how little they are spending on players’ wages compared to their rivals, as these budgets can include money used to pay off newly-built training facilities or refurbished stadiums.
Nonetheless, figures such as €17.3m for a side like Pau, just promoted from the Pro D2 last season and with James Coughlan, Paddy Butler and Sean Dougall in their squad, are enough to induce envy from Ireland and elsewhere.
Provisional Top 14 budgets for 2015/16:
Toulouse – €30.9m
Clermont – €29.2m
Stade Français – €27.7m
Toulon – €26.9m
Racing 92 – €24.3m
Montpellier – €23.5m
Grenoble – €21.7m
Bordeaux – €20.4m
Castres – €20.3m
Pau – €17.3m
La Rochelle – €16.4m
Oyonnax – €16m
Brive – €15.3m
Agen – €11.6m
Mcilroy a disaster so far.
@Martin McKenna: can’t play in the afternoon
@Barry Newell: two experts ain’t ye?
Is there any site I can watch it on me phone free.
Rory mcelroy an abs embarrassment .Not one birdie for the over rated one.
@Michael cunnane: out again in afternoon, christ almighty, no birdie and gets out again.
@Martin McKenna and @michael cunnane: neither of you have a clue about golf.
@Ardmore02: i concur
The Ryder Cup has always been a Tournament That has held the interest of golf Fans of Europe much more than your average American Fan.Americans have had only a fleeting interest :We don’t hold the RYDER in Reverence like TheMASTERS,BRITISH OPEN,US OPEN – MAJORS.The Great European Golfers,We See All the time,Many are based here,viewed not as Foreigners but as great individual athletes,place of origin is inconsequential.It’s not a Team Sport,but that’s changing here to a”Must See”Event.This year Ratings are through The Roof & it’s all because of the presence of the revered TIGER WOODS’ resurgence back into the Upper Echelon Of Golf ,not for any Patriotism for AMERICA but as an opportunity to again see him compete with the Best