By NEALE HARVEY
SOARING wage bills allied to a slump in the sponsorship market contributed to Premiership clubs reporting record losses of £30m for season 2016-17.
The figure exceeds the previous highest combined loss of £24.5m by the 12 Premiership clubs in 2013-14 despite an increase in central funding of £20.5m – up to £68.6m from £48.1m in 2015-16 – which was largely attributable to the new £220m, eight-year deal with the RFU.
Combined turnover hit its highest ever level at £195.8m – up from £187.9m the previous year. How...