Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne has described 2017 as an “incredibly difficult year for Australian Rugby” in the opening line of the organisation’s annual report released yesterday. RA recorded a $17.8 million surplus, which included $21.6 million in government funding for Rugby Australia’s new building at Moore Park. Ignoring that, the organisation recorded a $3.8 million deficit for the year on the back of poor ticket sales and legal costs associated with the removal of the Western Force. Clyne and newly appointed CEO Raelene Castle both highlighted growth in women’s and indigenous rugby as highlights of a tough year but preached a positive outlook for the game in the year ahead. Overall, Rugby Australia scored its overall 2017 performance 75/100, based on a list of objectives published in the organisation’s strategic plan. The four main pillars of the strategic plan were scored individually: Making rugby a game for all (23/25); Igniting Australia’s p