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Bill Sweeney is almost certain to keep his job as chief executive - Getty Images/Bob Bradford
Bill Sweeney, the embattled chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, comfortably won a vote of no confidence at Thursday night’s special general meeting.
With 708 members of the RFU voting in the meeting at the Allianz Stadium, Sweeney received 466 votes against the motion to dismiss him as chief executive. There were 206 votes to remove him, led by the Whole Game Union, and 36 abstentions.
The final decision on Sweeney’s future lies in the hands of the RFU Board, but with the chief executive having received 65.82 per cent of the vote, putting an end to his tenure seems unlikely. However, the number of RFU members who voted tonight (708) is dwarfed by the proportion of the RFU’s more than 2,000 members who did not turn up at all.
Rob Udwin, the RFU president, delivered the news alongside Sweeney and the governing body’s interim chairman, Bill Beaumont.
A second motion, promising greater devolution of power to the regions to address local issues as they see fit, which was brought by the RFU itself, was voted for by almost 80 per cent of attendees. Only 24 voters abstained while 18 per cent voted against.
Sweeney did not speak publicly throughout the meeting although submissions were heard by several council members, including Wayne Barnes, the former international referee and current RFU Board representative.
In his closing address, Beaumont said: “This is not a time to argue, but to pull together. The time for division is past. Now is the time to unite behind an opportunity to renew English rugby.
“Let us put behind this period of in-fighting and modernise the union. Let’s get back to focusing on the many positives in our game. Every single player who puts that white shirt on started off in community rugby – every single one of them.”
This evening’s events at Twickenham come after months of anger about Sweeney’s salary and bonus. It was revealed in November that Sweeney was paid £358,000 on top of his increased salary of £742,000, at a time where the RFU made dozens of job cuts and posted operational losses of nearly £40 million.
Tom Ilube, the RFU chairman, stepped down after the executive bonus payments were revealed. Sweeney has stood firm, however, and has recently been on a tour of rugby clubs in an attempt to shore up his position.
07:03 PM GMT
Bill Beaumont’s closing remarks in full
At the end of the meeting Sir Bill Beaumont, the interim Chair of the RFU said:
“Thank you all for your contributions this evening and for the thoughtful input we’ve received over the past few weeks. Your engagement and dedication to the future of English rugby are what make our Union so strong.
“On the first motion before us, the message from our members is clear. They have voted emphatically to support our CEO, Bill Sweeney, and I am pleased to see such a decisive outcome. I would also like to acknowledge the members who voted for the motion — thank you for your voices and your perspectives. Every opinion matters and your concerns have been duly heard.
“I ask that you now give the RFU the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to progress. We are listening and taking action.
“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. But it’s important to remember, and we do understand this, that we are all united by a common passion for the game.
“It is absolutely right that members should always have the opportunity to hold the leadership of the RFU to account. That is part of our democratic process as a membership-owned organisation. But the way to achieve meaningful changes is through open discussion, cooperation, and shared goals and so now is the time for us to come together, to strengthen our unity, and to focus on the future. The time for division is past.
“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 not anticipate a wave of SGMs and new motions designed to divide.
“I represent the whole game through my club Fylde, and I have spent all my life in the community game. And I go down there to watch our grandchildren play and I do understand what club rugby is all about.
“Now we need to let the leadership get back to leading. We have, for example, had thousands of conversations in clubhouses up and down the country in recent weeks. Some feedback has been hard to hear but most of it has been constructive. We have listened. We have responded. And we will give local clubs a more direct voice and influence in a new devolved structure.
“We will embark upon this process with renewed vigour in the months between now and the Annual General Meeting. Let us then put this period of infighting behind us, and instead, unite behind a common mission to modernise the Union and its structures including through our governance review which has also been emphatically supported this evening.
“Members have now given us an overwhelming mandate to shake up the archaic structures of how the game is run here, which continue to hold us back. The RFU wants to modernise, and this is an unprecedented opportunity to do exactly that.
“Let us also get back to focusing on the many brilliant and important things in our game. The passion and commitment of nearly 90,000 volunteers that provide the bedrock of our game. The great work that is already under way to get rugby back into schools and our vibrant age grade sections in clubs. The improving form of the England senior men’s team and age grade teams. Every single player who pulls on a white shirt started at a community club. Every single one of them.
“The impending Women’s Rugby World Cup and the ongoing Red Roses Six Nations campaign. The plans in place to make the professional club game more sustainable working together with the second tier. And the work we are doing to reform our structures and get more help to the community game, making it simpler and easier to both run, and play, the game.
“We must do this with the understanding that we are all working together toward the betterment of the game we love, free from the influence of any one minority or group.
“In conclusion, 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. Thank you.”
06:45 PM GMT
Your reaction in the comments
Some suggesting that Sweeney’s position is untenable regardless of the outcome, while others are noting that his salary should still be reduced.
06:31 PM GMT
What happens next?
The RFU board will now convene to discuss the vote result, off the back of this emphatic result in favour of Sweeney.
There is of course a possibility that the board could conclude Sweeney has lost too much of the membership, but that seems highly unlikely.
06:20 PM GMT
The meeting is formally closed
So, in the end, Sweeney survives by a very comfortable margin of 260 votes.
06:16 PM GMT
Sir Bill Beaumont speaks
Applause as Beaumont finishes. No word from Sweeney.
06:13 PM GMT
Confirmed: Sweeney stays as CEO
Resolution One - Motion to remove Sweeney
For: 206
Against: 466
Abstain: 36
Resolution Two - More power for local clubs
For: 554
Against: 127
Abstain: 24
06:11 PM GMT
Votes are now being counted
Results are in.
06:10 PM GMT
Comments on the process
A suggestion that the process to get people to attend has been “extraordinarily difficult” and the software has been compared to Horizon (!). The calling notice is described as “not fit for purpose” and should be improved in future.
06:07 PM GMT
Voting now begins
There will be a couple of minutes for this.
06:01 PM GMT
Second resolution now being discussed
Paula Carter, who chairs the Head Injury Management and Prevention Sub Committee and the Governance Standing Committee, is the speaker.
A reminder this motion is effectively promising greater devolution to the regions to give them more powers to address local issues as they see fit.
“These reforms should represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
Kevin Keaney from Weybridge Vandals and James Sims from Farnham praise the process of the roadshows.
05:55 PM GMT
More questions
The tone of the meeting is praised by Terry Burwell from Hampshire.
Ali Donnelly, the new comms chief at the RFU and part of Teddington RFC, stresses that communication is on the way regarding the roadshow proposals.
Polly Williams reiterates that any surplus money will be reinvested back into the game.
05:44 PM GMT
More questions
What succession plan is in place? Is one question wondering what would be the process if something happened to Sweeney (!)
“One interim role I’m not interested in,” jokes Bill Beaumont.
Concerns over RFU finances are now raised. Polly Williams, the chair for audit and risk, provides a response regarding debentures and the deal with Compass Group. She notes the welcome certainty regarding the Six Nations being on free-to-air, and notes the RFU are working hard to invigorate the stadium and to maximise revenue streams.
05:38 PM GMT
Less questions, more statements
Funny how the first three questions from the floor were not questions at all but statements, two of which were barely veiled hagiographies to the wonder of Bill Sweeney. The fourth when it finally came, from Gary Henderson from Sussex, on what a potential timeline would be on potential RFU reforms was rejected by Rob Udwin, the RFU president, as not relevant. Wonderful to see democracy in action.
05:31 PM GMT
Do you support the vote of no confidence in Bill Sweeney?
05:27 PM GMT
Questions and comments from the floor and online
The cost of removing Sweeney would be “a significant sum”, says Angus Bujalski, the RFU’s Director of Legal and Governance.
There’s a call for unity from Chris Kane of London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club, thanking Sweeney for helping the club after the professional outfit went bust.
Dickon Moon from London Cornish says Sweeney cannot be held accountable for the lack of rugby knowledge on the RFU board or inheriting structure which undermines him. He argues strongly for Sweeney to be measured by key performance indicators set by a new board.
Gary Henderson, Chairman of Sussex RFU, calls for more boots on the ground in the community game and says those calls in the past have been ignored, asking for a timeframe on the commitments coming out of the roadshow. Udwin says that will be hard to answer this evening.
Some comments online criticising Barnes’ earlier remarks. Bujalski confirms that Barnes receives “a small fee” - which is £25,000.
05:18 PM GMT
Wayne Barnes next to speak on behald of the RFU board
05:10 PM GMT
The first resolution
Paddy McAlpine, the chair of Chichester RFC, proposes the first resolution regarding Sweeney’s future and part of the Whole Game Union.
05:09 PM GMT
First comments being submitted
Still at the rules and regulations stage currently but should be underway shortly.
05:05 PM GMT
The first SGM on this matter in over 20 years
05:03 PM GMT
Our man on the ground Dan Schofield
As you can imagine there are more blazers on display outside Twickenham than at the Henley Regatta. The RFU are anticipating the biggest turnout for any SGM or AGM this century. The rebels are expected to have a large presence in the room even though members can vote remotely. One rebel was cutting a relaxed figure saying they were, “result agnostic and they expect change will come that would not happen without this process.
05:02 PM GMT
RFU President Rob Udwin opens the meeting
He confirms who is attendance before giving some preliminary points.
04:59 PM GMT
Huge boost for Sweeney
Community Clubs Union chair Rob Sigley has upset former allies by endorsing under-fire chief executive before historic vote of no confidence, as Dan Schofield reports.
04:47 PM GMT
Jaunty hold music as we wait
Not sure the discussions will be as upbeat.
04:43 PM GMT
What will happen at the SGM
Here is a thorough explanation from Gavin Mairs.
04:38 PM GMT
Support for Sweeney
Here’s Telegraph Sport columnist Will Greenwood on Radio 4’s Today programme earlier this morning.
04:30 PM GMT
Welcome
Afternoon everybody. Well, after months of comments in public and one extensive roadshow around the country by the Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney, it all comes down to today’s vote. A Special General Meeting will kick off at 5pm and we will do our best to bring you updates from how it goes, ahead of a vote over whether Sweeney should stay or go.
As a reminder, there are two votes scheduled: a vote of no confidence in Sweeney, following the fallout from the RFU’s Long Term Incentive Plan and the planned bonus that was paid to Sweeney, and a motion from the RFU designed to address the concerns raised by grassroots clubs during the roadshow events held over recent months. That motion hints at greater devolution, giving the clubs more power.
Back to Sweeney, it was last November when the RFU’s annual report revealed that Sweeney had become the highest-paid chief executive in British sport after receiving £1.1million last year – a salary of £742,000 and a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) bonus of £358,000 - at a time when the RFU sustained a record loss of more than £37 million and redundancies of 42 members of staff.
The RFU chairman, Tom Ilube, has already stepped down. But reporting on Wednesday suggested that Sweeney could receive enough key support to survive a vote of no confidence, with Rob Sigley, the chair of the Community Clubs Union, endorsing Sweeney to remain in his position.
“Now is the time for stability and a vision, and I believe that Bill, with careful support from selected stakeholders, can deliver precisely that,” Sigley said, in a move which is understood to have frustrated other parties looking to remove Sweeney from his role.
So, let’s see how things play out. Stay with us for updates.
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