Rebels issue demand for RFU chief Sweeney sacking

A high-level crisis in English rugby erupted on Thursday evening as grassroots rebels publicly demanded the dismissal of Bill Sweeney, but the Rugby Football Union (RFU) rejected a petition for a vote on the future of its embattled chief executive. This collective, comprising 10 second-tier Championship clubs, multiple refereeing bodies, and lower-level clubs from across the country, called on the RFU board to dismiss Sweeney “as soon as is practically possible.”

Sweeney's £1.1 million pay package, coinciding with record financial losses and a round of redundancies at the governing body, has become a primary issue of their complaint. They also slammed the RFU leadership for failing to do more to save clubs such as London Irish, Wasps, Worcester, and Jersey Reds from going into liquidation, as well as the botched rollout of new rules regarding tackle height in 2023, the funding of terminated England coaches’ contracts, and “the loss of faith and trust in the leadership of the game by thousands of volunteers” who keep the game alive.

The rebels secured the support of 152 clubs and bodies, well over the threshold of 100 required to trigger an extraordinary general meeting and a vote on Sweeney’s future. However, the RFU swiftly dismissed the calls for a summit meeting of nearly 2,000 members and a final confrontation over Sweeney, claiming the no-confidence motion lacked the necessary signatures. “The letter contains a number of inaccuracies,” the RFU added in a statement. “It does not meet the relevant requirements and is therefore invalid as a request for an EGM.”

The organizers of the motion now plan to resubmit their paperwork and insist they will force the issue to a vote. “The RFU can play for time all it likes but this is a groundswell movement by a stronger and more united group,” said a spokesperson for the collective. “Nit-picking over what is a valid form of complaint is only delaying the inevitable. It would surely be better for the RFU to respect the wishes of the 150-plus members to date who seek to exercise their right under Twickenham’s own regulations to hold the game’s managers to account at an EGM.”

Former chair Tom Ilube, who was a member of the RFU’s remuneration committee that approved Sweeney’s recent bonus, resigned in December. His departure and an independent review into plans to increase the pay of Sweeney and five other executives has not quelled the discontent. If Sweeney’s critics can provide paperwork demonstrating the necessary support, an EGM would be held during the men’s Six Nations. Several club officials explained their decision to support the no-confidence motion. “The recent RFU decision to award bonuses to senior staff is incredible,” said David Morton, secretary of sixth-tier Carlisle. “The RFU constantly proclaim community rugby is the lifeblood of the game while seemingly treating them like paupers.”

“Every club I know wants to see change at the top, new leadership, and a new approach to driving English rugby forward at all levels,” added Paddy McAlpine, chair of Chichester, also in the sixth tier. However, the nine professional referees employed by the RFU distanced themselves from the motion, saying they had not been consulted by the referees’ union behind it and added that they “do not endorse any statement or meeting.”