RFU board issue an update on CEO Bill Sweeney ahead of SGM

The Rugby Football Union board has given its full support to under-fire chief executive Bill Sweeney ahead of a special general meeting on March 27. A formal letter, including the signatories of 141 RFU member clubs and referee societies, issued a vote of no confidence in Sweeney earlier this year, which was initially rejected on the grounds of bureaucratic technicalities before a U-turn was performed and an SGM pencilled in.

Sweeney has faced calls for his removal from rebel clubs angered by the bonus and pay scandal that came to light in November, but he has declined to apologise for the long-term incentive plan that resulted in him being paid a bonus of £358,000 on top of an increased salary of £742,000 for the last financial year.

Further bonuses totalling almost £1million were paid to five other executives despite the RFU reporting a record operating loss of £37.9m and making 27 staff redundant. Tom Ilube resigned as chair in response to the crisis.

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Bill Beaumont has taken over as interim chair and since embarked on a nationwide tour where he held meetings with “over 500 people from 400 grassroots member clubs, constituent bodies, referee societies and national representative bodies”, with the feedback now set to enable members to vote on an additional motion at the SGM on March 27.

The additional motion reads: “Members believe the governance and representation review should be expedited and this should include formal consultation with the wider game. Proposals should be shared before the RFU’s AGM and members are to be further consulted on actions later in the year.”

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In a letter sent out on behalf of Beaumont and the RFU board to members on Friday, Sweeney was described as “spearheading vital commercial and broadcast negotiations” and given unanimous backing. “I urge member clubs to vote in favour of this resolution which can bring about meaningful governance change and against the motion that members have no confidence in the chief executive officer,” a letter from Beaumont to RFU members and seen by the PA news agency read.

“Any decision relating to the employment of the CEO is the responsibility of the RFU board and the board unanimously supports Bill Sweeney remaining as CEO.

“A vote of no confidence risks sending the union into paralysis and creating a costly leadership vacuum, especially at a time when we are recruiting a new chair and when our CEO is spearheading vital commercial and broadcast negotiations that will play a huge role in safeguarding our future financial sustainability.”