The Rugby Football League (RFL) has posted pre-tax profits of £13,000 for 2009 - the eighth consecutive year the national governing body has been in the black.

Compared with the previous year, the RFL saw turnover grow by 50 per cent to £21.9m during 2009, with rugby league clubs picking up a share of £5.3m - an increase of £3m from 2008. Payments to the national governing body's charities - the Rugby League Foundation; the RFL Benevolent Fund, the RFL National Museum and Arts Foundation; and the RFL Facilities Trust – also grew to £510,000.

RFL chair Richard Lewis said: "The enhanced contracts we negotiated with our broadcast partners Sky and the BBC have enabled the RFL to provide clubs with the resources they need to operate successfully in difficult trading conditions. "2009 was an exceptionally good year for both the sport and the RFL. The accounts reflect the quality of the hard work and dedication shown by RFL staff, the clubs and the sport's many volunteers."