IRB hails "encouraging" RWC 2011

The International Rugby Board has revealed that the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand was the second most commercially successful in the tournament's history.

The IRB said the tournament has achieved a "net surplus of more than £90m".

The gross commercial revenues of £142m were within three percent of the total of the record-breaking 2007 tournament in France.

"These excellent results represent a strong endorsement of the Rugby World Cup brand and Rugby brands generally in the global commercial marketplace," said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"This is particularly encouraging given that Rugby World Cup 2007 was hosted at the height of the global economic boom, while Rugby World Cup 2011 was hosted amidst an uncertain economic climate in a smaller domestic marketplace and in a non-European time zone."

The 2015 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by England.