Senior RFU officials issue rallying cry in wake of key Bill Sweeney vote after ‘uneasy few months for English rugby’
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney.
Senior RFU officials have called for the game to unite and move forward in the wake of Bill Sweeney surviving a vote of no confidence last night.
The motion, which was brought forward after the RFU bonuses scandal back in December, was rejected by 65% (466 to 206).
But, following the decision, senior leaders within the game have called for the division of the past few months to be put to one side in order to move forward.
Senior officials call for unity following Bill Sweeney decision
“They have voted emphatically to support our CEO, Bill Sweeney, and I am pleased to see such a decisive outcome,” said interim chair of the RFU, Sir Bill Beaumont.
“These last few months have not been easy for English rugby, where a lot has played out in the media.
“Now is the time to pull together and this shouldn’t happen again. Now is the time to unite behind an opportunity to renew English rugby. I trust that those who supported this motion will honour and accept the result on this tonight and lets work forward to make changes.
“Let’s stand together, and focus on what we can achieve together, and work to ensure that the Rugby Football Union continues to thrive, evolve, and lead the way in rugby.
“The time for division is behind us. The time for collaboration is now.”
Despite Sweeney surviving the vote of no confidence, the second resolution for greater RFU board reform was passed 554 to 127.
Also commenting on the events, Mike McTighe, men’s professional rugby board chair, said: “We need to work diligently and collaboratively over the next few years to increase financial stability across the Premiership and the second tier.
“We all want a healthy professional game, and our goal must be to have a system that creates flourishing, sustainable clubs as well as one that yields ambitious clubs that are ready for the Premiership. We are clear about this mission and it will be achieved far quicker if we all pull together.
“The result this evening means that one of the most crucial stakeholders in this work – the RFU – can move forward with stability, which is vitally important if we are going to make the progress we want quickly and we are now looking forward to continuing to work closely with the leadership team there to do so.”
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Tier 2 board chair, Simon Gillham OBE, added: “Our two recently established boards are committed to working together to join up the professional game and put in place the right environment and structures to build financial sustainability and support aspiring clubs.
“Teams who want to achieve promotion through the leagues need to be supported in their goal and for this we aim to build an attractive and financially sustainable Tier 2, supported by the RFU and MPRB.
“It’s clear that stable leadership at the RFU is key to this work and we’re pleased that the outcome gives the game exactly that.”
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