Six years after the previous one, the Center for Sports Law and Economics has carried out a new study on the economic, fiscal and social benefits of Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs on the territories.
A clearly increasing economic weight
Over the 2024-2025 season, the economic activity produced by professional rugby reached 1.33 billion euros, i.e., on a like-for-like basis, an increase of 38% compared to the previous study (2018-2019 season). “A development that is all the more significant as it takes place in a period marked by the Covid health crisis”recalls the report. To carry out this macroeconomic assessment, the CDES assessed the weight of the National Rugby League, its thirty professional clubs (Top 14 and Pro D2), but also that of spectators, service providers, partners (public and private), the media… In detail, the clubs inject 575 million euros territorially, the media 210 M€, the spectators 203 M€, the bettors 139 M€…
A real contribution to public finances
Professional rugby is an important contributor to public finances through social security contributions, taxes and other fees paid to public bodies. Excluding the tax paid by players, the total of these public contributions amounted in 2024-2025 to nearly €194 million (an increase of 28.5% in six years). For a more than positive contribution for local authorities, whose support for professional clubs is estimated at 45.7 million euros. “That is a ratio of 4 euros donated by professional rugby players to public finances for 1 euro of public support received”specifies the CDES study.
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More than 5,000 jobs supported
The study also highlights a 26% increase in the number of jobs linked directly, indirectly and induced by the NRL and clubs compared to 2019. 5,133 jobs are currently supported by professional rugby, highlighting its importance as a “non-relocatable employer, in the heart of the territories”.
The rugby 2e economic actor behind football
Professional rugby is “an economic lever for local life” with more than 5.3 million spectators welcomed into the stadiums over the 2024-2025 season. This results in a significant territorial economic impact, “up to 16 euros generated locally for 1 euro of public investment in Top 14 clubs”. For comparison, among the six men’s team sports in France (football, rugby, basketball, handball, volleyball, ice hockey), the LNR ranks second behind the LFP, with 13% of the total of these six leagues. A share that rises to 66% of men’s professional sports products if we remove football.
