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.
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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.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Rodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI'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
12 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?
46 Go to comments