RFU boss reveals the breathtaking cuts made behind closed doors
Bill Sweeney has laid bare the drastic staff measures the RFU have implemented during the coronavirus lockdown in England. The RFU may be the biggest union in the rugby world, but it hasn’t been immune to the financial crisis caused by the spread of the virus.
It was revealed last week how the governing body in England was braced for lost revenue of up to £50million over the next 18 months due to the outbreak as the closure of Twickenham during the pandemic will have a significant impact on revenues.
(Continue reading below…)
Eddie Jones agrees England contract extension
CEO Sweeney, head coach Eddie Jones and other executives have already committed to pay cuts of more than 25 per cent, but the damage for the rank and file working at the RFU has been far more considerable with more than 60 per cent of staff put on furlough – a period of unpaid leave.
It was March 20 when the British Government introduced an emergency system whereby 80 per cent of an employee’s usual monthly wage costs, up to a ceiling of £2,500 a month, could be claimed with registration through the HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs).
This resulted in the RFU taking immediate action to temporarily let go the majority of its staff, a development only revealed by Sweeney when taking questions via a media video conference about the unveiling of Jones’ contract extension through to the 2023 World Cup in France.
“We implemented that very, very early on,” he said. “If you look at our total employee base, we have got 540-odd employees, 340 of those are now currently on furlough, that is 62 per cent of the organisation.
“At this stage in the crisis there are certain people who are business-critical who are still working on this and we will re-evaluate that in a week or two weeks’ time and that furlough number may go up slightly. We are heavily involved in that furlough programme.”
Protecting the bottom line has become the name of the RFU’s game in recent weeks and while Sweeney confirmed talks are ongoing about reducing the match fees paid to England players, he was uncertain if the pay cuts taken by the CEO and his fellow high fliers would be permanent.
“It’s too early to say that at this stage,” he said about the 25 per cent salary reductions announced last week for the RFU top brass possibly becoming permanent rather than only being a short-term measure.
“The reaction was the first phase of this crisis: how we manage through the initial stages, how do we put programmes in place to make sure we are in the best shape we can be and be in a position to take those pay cuts and bonuses for the exec team and for Eddie.
“We are taking it step by step. All businesses around the country are going to be watching how this is evolving. You don’t know where the finishing line is currently, so we will continue to monitor it and take the necessary steps we need to take.
“That conversation (about match fees) started off a while ago before the crisis struck. The EPS (elite players squad), the players match fees contract is up in the middle of this year.
“Those conversations have started off. Things changed with the situation we are facing now. There are no decisions made yet. It is an ongoing dialogue and we will carry on with those.”
Paring back outgoings wherever possible has become essential to the future health of the sport in England. “I don’t think anyone could have predicted something of this magnitude [the coronavirus stoppage] but it does highlight where you have fault lines and it does highlight where you do have some weaknesses and some of those are being exposed now.
“A lot of the conversations now are how we come out of this and emerge stronger. You don’t want to come back in and carry on with the same model that just repeats the same difficulties of the past, so there is a lot of conversations about how we come out of this with rugby in a better place domestically and also internationally.
“Cost controls are important, creating a better product for the consumer in how the calendar works, certainly you can maximise the commercial revenue side of the game, there is a whole list of things we need to be looking at and working more closely together so we can all realise the benefit.”
WATCH: Freddie Burns talks RugbyPass through his fitness regime during coronavirus lockdown
Comments on RugbyPass
I've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to comments