Pressure mounts on RFU as clubs pen open letter

National League 1 rugby union clubs have come together to pen an open letter criticising the way the game is run, adding to mounting pressure on the RFU.

A week after Championship clubs united to request a special general meeting to discuss a vote of no confidence in RFU Chairman Tom Ilube and Chief Executive Bill Sweeney, the third tier of men’s rugby in England has added to questions over the RFU’s record financial losses and executive bonuses.

The twelve clubs have criticised ‘major failures in governance and leadership’ and a ‘lack of accountability’ before an emergency meeting of the RFU Council on Wednesday (18^th December).

Last month, the RFU revealed a record operating loss of nearly £40m, while Sweeney, despite the financial shortfall, received a total remuneration of £1.1m, including a £358,000 bonus on top of his £742,000 salary. Sweeney was one of six executives who shared a £1.3m bonus pool, amid more than 40 redundancies across the union.

The damning letter from National League 1 clubs has been signed by Blackheath FC, Darlington Mowden Park RFC, Dings Crusaders RFC, Esher RFC, Leicester Lions RFC, Plymouth Albion RFC, Rams RFC, Richmond FC, Rosslyn Park FC, Rotherham Titans RUFC, Sale FC, and Sedgley Park RUFC.

The letter states, ‘The RFU Council and Board are complicit both in the lack of accountability and governance the member clubs expect them to exercise, and, alongside the RFU leadership, in the lack of clarity and strategy for the development of rugby in England.

‘We note there will be an emergency meeting of the RFU Council on 18 December. We call upon the members of the RFU Council to use this as an opportunity to instigate an independent review of the management of rugby in England.

‘The National League 1 clubs will act individually when it comes to arguing for or voting on any no-confidence motions that might arise either at that meeting or at any subsequent [meeting] of the RFU.’