He may have pulled Australian rugby out of the mire but supremo John O'Neill believes the tougher challenge - for all sports - lies ahead.

The Australian Rugby Union on Thursday announced an extraordinary $9.19 million turnaround in its financial fortunes for the 2008 calendar year.

The governing body said it had recorded a surplus of $712,000 following a much-publicised deficit of $8.48 million for 2007, the year O'Neill returned to replace Gary Flowers at the helm.

At the time, O'Neill infamously described the code in Australia as in "deep shit".

Since then he has scrapped the controversial Australian Rugby Championship, pulled Australia A out of the Pacific Nations Cup, announced pay cuts for players and staff and shed a multitude of jobs at the ARU's Sydney headquarters, cutting expenditure from $80.69 million in 2007 to $73.99 million the following year.

"The current economic stress being experienced makes this decision even more responsible," O'Neill said in a statement.

"We must also emphasise that, while the 2008 result was a substantial and necessary turnaround for the business, there are significant challenges facing Australian rugby and indeed all sports in this country due to the current economic climate.

"These are unprecedented times. The economic circumstances, both domestically and worldwide, have changed dramatically in recent months.

"They are far worse than anyone imagined."

The ARU raked in more than $83 million last year, with gate takings up nearly 50 per cent to $21.78 million from six Tests, one justification for the appointment of New Zealander Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach.

A fourth Bledisloe Cup clash in Hong Kong last year is believed to have boosted the ARU's coffers by more than $2 million.

Overall cash reserves were restored to $15 million, the statement said, "and reversed what had become an annual erosion of the windfall delivered by the 2003 Rugby World Cup".

Also announced at the annual general meeting in Sydney was former Wallabies prop Ron Graham's election for two years as ARU president, replacing Paul McLean.

Dick McGruther was elected vice president and Peter McGrath reappointed ARU chairman.

Graham's appointment, however, may not please everyone.

Queensland Rugby Union chairman Peter Lewis wrote on Wednesday in support of his state's nominee, McGruther: "Dick's relevant experience and acumen compared to his rival's is a `no brainer'. Let's hope the secret ballot produces a sensible outcome in the interests of the game."

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