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
That’s the competition. Murray, any chance of writing an article re the Irish/Pro 12 club budgets?
But are they happy?
and yet our provinces can still beat the majority of those teams with probably under a third of their budgets.
Roughly anyone know the budget of the 4 provinces? Not including Rory’s money
Why is he funding your province Philip?
What about the great Dinny O B?
Hmm I need a point of reference for this like the pro12 or English leagues budgets. Football has desensitised me. All I can see is that half the clubs on that list couldn’t afford to pay Lionel messi’s annual salary with their entire budget.
Ya, but if you want to see men diving then go to the local swimming pool.
anyone know roughly what leinster, munster, ulster and connacht are paying their playing staff?