Rugby: Chicago helps NZRU turn profit

The windfall from the All Blacks' test in Chicago helped the NZRU overcome a budgeted loss. Photo / Getty

The New Zealand Rugby Union is on track to turn a $1.2million budgeted loss into a "modest" profit says boss Steve Tew.

The popularity of the All Blacks' test against the United States at a sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago will help with the final numbers, which will be known at the end of the year, Tew said today.

A crowd of about 62,000 watched the test, won 74-6 by the All Blacks at the home of the Chicago Bears. About 1 million people around the world watched the live feed of the telecast provided by US channel NBC.

Also in the NZRU's favour was the popularity of the All Blacks' tests this year in Auckland (twice), Dunedin, Hamilton and Napier.

"We've done much better than anticipated throughout the year helped by a variety of things - there's still a final reconciliation to be done on the Chicago test which might improve it further," Tew said.

"We've managed our costs well. We've saved money in a number of areas."

In a media briefing today following the NZRU's latest board meeting, Tew said his organisation was most of the way through sealing the broadcast and media rights process which will take effect from 2016.

He added that he hoped to be able to confirm before Christmas whether or not All Blacks' coach Steve Hansen had extended his contract.