Bill Sweeney took to his seat at the Allianz Suite in Twickenham to wish him a Happy New Year. But Goodwill season feels long overdue for the RFU CEO.
He has stated his intention to remain in the role until 2027, but it will be a difficult task even if he survives a vote on the no-confidence SGM, which has been signed by more than 150 clubs.
In a lopsided hour-long press conference, he defended his £1.1m wage-cheque, England’s ongoing coaching and the RFU’s financial performance.
There have been repeated references to ‘misinformation’ and ‘fiction’, none of which will do much to improve the atmosphere in clubhouses across the country.
“We are definitely committed to the end of this cycle, which is the end in 2027,” Sweeney said. ‘I never thought about stepping down.
‘From a personal perspective, what I’m hearing is about incentive schemes and bonuses.
RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said he intended to continue in his role until 2027.
Sweeney (left) defended his £1.1m salary-check, coaching run and the RFU’s finances.
Last year, England lost seven of their 12 Tests under coach Steve Borthwick.
‘When you go to a rugby club there is a whole series of things that have nothing to do with the PGP, the Nations Cup or this grand project. In the amateur game it’s about the basics: paying players, the cost of running a club, rising taxes, rising utilities, losing players, recruiting volunteers.
‘It’s a merger that’s always been there. When the incentive scheme was announced, it was a bit of a lightning rod to come to the surface. That’s my personal take. ‘
Even if Sweeney loses the vote on March 27, it’s unclear whether he will actually leave. ‘Once the voting starts, it’s a board decision,’ he said.
Frustration bubbled over ahead of the bonus payout at the end of a financial year in which the RFU suffered a record loss of £37.9m and suffered 27 redundancies.
In Sweeney’s defence, he operates in an old-fashioned system that requires accountability across the community, club and international game. But he oversaw a troubled tenure in which three premiership clubs went bankrupt, participation numbers fell, TV rights fell through and the national team suffered through succession plans between Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick.
‘I think the governance structure of the RFU needs to change significantly. But this sentiment does not extend to removing the anonymity of the review panels behind the hiring and firing of national coaches. He is not ready to introduce himself as a director of rugby.
Sweeney said: ‘It’s a panel, experts in rugby come together to discuss things and look at options. I can be part of the conversation, but they’re going to recommend who will be the next head coach. In this day and age of social media and its celebrated nature, some people don’t want to come to the panel unless they are anonymous. ‘
Many failures are hidden behind bureaucracy, NDAs, and faceless meetings.
Succession planning between Eddie Jones and Borthwick took place at Sweeney.
In Sweeney’s (left) defense, he is operating in an outdated system, but frustration remains.
Key coaches Aled Walters (pictured) and Felix Jones were put on notice last year.
Last year, England’s main coaches, Aled Walters and Felix Jones, lost seven of their two Tests. He said the results of the annual performance review will remain anonymous.
‘I don’t think it’s Champic,’ he said of the unsettling coaching change. ‘You can’t legislate someone’s personal freedom, personal choice, about what they want to do.
‘Did we think Aled Walters was going to go? no. Did you think Felix Jones would go? no.
‘We thought they would stay longer. I think the way we compete, I think that’s progress. ‘
A change in the fortunes of the national side in the Six Nations would certainly brighten the mood in English rugby, but the complaints against Swinney appear to be going nowhere.
