Munster’s on field progression this season has boosted their financial takings of the year.

This season has shown real progress for Munster with the team reaching the semi-final in the Champions Cup and the Final in the Guinness Pro1.Because of their improved on field fortunes this season, it has resulted in the province predicting a cash flow of €310,000 for the year to the end of June.

It was only 12 months ago when Munster showed a cash flow deficit of €1.93 million in their end of year financial figures.

Munster Rugby Head of Finance and Operations, Philip Quinn, discussed Munster’s financial update in the recent AGM and discussed the main details behind the expected improvement year-on-year with gate income increasing by €2.05 million on the 2015/16 season.

Home games in both the Champions Cup and Guinness PRO12 and the Maori All Blacks game and brought in most most of the gate income increase. Even regular season income also improved as their were seven sell outs across Limerick and Cork.

Munster enjoyed a total of nine capacity crowds in 2016/17, a new record for the province.

Tickets sales for Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park rose by 52% to 305,000. Attendances increased from 124,000 to 243,000, with the attendance rate climbing from 62% to 80% of tickets sold and Munster allocated just shy of 5,000 reduced priced Junior tickets to every Thomond Park game in 2016/17.

The AGM heard that professional team costs continue to rise, this is due to the player wage increases and injury cover during the season.

Quinn also said that improved kit and retail partnerships with sponsors adidas and Life Style Sports, and Munster Rugby Commercial Board initiatives including the Patrons Programme as substantial financial drivers in the 2016/17 season.

As well as this Charlie Buckley, of UCC RFC, was elected President of the Munster Branch for the up coming season.

Lets hope that Munster can keep this progress going next season and go one better in both domestic and European competitions.