RFU rebellion must lead to the decline of heads — English rugby needs solutions, not new problems

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, along with chairman Tom Ilube, have been the target of an internal rebellion within the governing body. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan

If you want to complain about the work of the Rugby Football Union and there are things you can complain about, there are ways to do so, especially if you are a member of the RFU Council or hold, or have held, a senior management position. rugby body.

One way to do business properly is to state your end goals rather than obscure them in a general complaint, specifying the problems but not offering any solutions, without resorting to formal procedures.

Moreover, launching such a campaign on the evening before England's first Rugby World Cup match against Argentina is not only cynical, but stupid. This has triggered the latest «RFU crisis» and unleashed the pernicious influence of social media on long-standing and complex topics that are now reduced to simplistic phrases as England struggle to make progress in a tournament that features the largest number of top-flight teams ever gathered to receive the main prize in rugby.

Although this is a corporate governance issue, it raises very important issues for the future of English rugby. These are vital issues and it is against this background that the timing and manner of this campaign must be considered.

Having spoken with several former RFU presidents, current and former staff, executives and board members, and eight board members, I was told that behind the letter and the underlying issue was a long-running power struggle between the RFU Executive Board and the Council. This includes disputes about finance and many other areas where there are well-known but not easily resolved problems.

There are also implications for the general review of RAF management practices that has been initiated by DCMS. £50 million RFU loan. The executive advocated for an independent review similar to that carried out by the New Zealand RFU; the board voted in favor and received an internal review akin to a homework review, although the nominating committee delayed the appointment further.

As a result, the recent letter from the RFU, as reported by Telegraph Sport, signed by 30 of the 65 members of the RFU Council, not only did not become a vote of no confidence in RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney and chairman Tom Iluba, but was essentially the same thing.

Why the council wants to return to the internecine war of 2010-2012 is beyond fans.

I understand that a leadership group of individuals outside the council is behind this letter, with the possible goal of replacing Sweeney and Ilube.

All this is reminiscent of the internecine war of 2010. -12, which led to the resignation of Francis Baron and the ridiculously short term of office of John Steele. Why the RFU Board wants to return to those days is beyond the comprehension of most rugby supporters. None of this will solve English rugby's long-standing problems, nor is it the right way to do it.

I have an alternative suggestion. If you really don't trust the people above, use the formal method of calling an extraordinary (or extraordinary) general meeting of the RFU and casting a proper vote of no confidence so that it can be discussed and voted on by all concerned — but do it outside of the World Cup campaign.

This would be fair and transparent and would avoid these issues being discussed through the social media frenzy method. However, I would also demand that the simple proposal is not just a solution to what the leaders of the RFU are currently proposing, but that those who say: “This is not good enough” set out their proposals for resolving the issues complained of.

Which Do you propose a division in the financing of professional and mass games? What alternative financial plan do you have to the one proposed by RFU finance director Sue Day? How will you resolve the current farce of the academy rugby system? How do you think the RFU championship can be improved, other than just giving it more money? How do you feel about promotions and relegations? Are you proposing to continue allowing second, third and fourth tier teams in the lower leagues to pay wages equivalent to Rugby League Super League without having the attendance figures for the latter broadcast contract or two? And so on and so forth.

First of all, have balls; make your case public and put it to a vote. Thirty Council members have put their names forward, but what about those pulling the strings in the background? If you win, Sweeney and Ilube will leave, and if you lose, you will all resign.