Challenge Cup final win could mean £400,000 payday for Giants

Aug 28 2009 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A SIX-FIGURE prize awaits Huddersfield Giants if they can pull off a Wembley success – and a whole lot more.

The Carnegie Challenge Cup winners of 2009 will receive £100,000 – the beaten finalists will collect £35,000.

However, the club stand to make so much more out of their cup run – win or lose!

The club have already revealed that sales from merchandising have been very encouraging ever since their semi-final win over holders St Helens.

The Rugby Football League have been equally impressed by the response of Huddersfield’s fans having sold out their initial allocation of 10,000 and with sales going into the week of the final almost matching those of Saints supporters at the same time last season.

But there is every chance that the Giants could be set to pocket almost four times as much as the winning prize money.

Last season’s losing finalists Hull FC – beaten 28-16 by St Helens at Wembley – made a healthy profit despite being runners-up.

“The Challenge Cup final has a huge effect in financial terms and in helping to raise the profile of your club,” said Hull’s chief executive James Rule, whose club were Challenge Cup winners at Cardiff’s Millennium in 2005 beating Leeds 25-24.

“In real terms, when you take into account the prize money available, we probably earned between £300,000 and £400,000 by reaching last year’s final.

“Then, on the back of that, there’s the added benefit it had in terms of securing new sponsorship deals and enhanced deals with existing partners – and it also provides a massive lift on the merchandise front.”