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Bill Sweeney has faced down fierce criticism from clubs across the country but his fate will be decided at a Special General Meeting - Getty Images/Bob Bradford
One of Bill Sweeney’s biggest critics has committed an extraordinary U-turn and is now backing the RFU chief executive to stay in his role ahead of the Special General Meeting on Thursday.
Rob Sigley, the chair of the Community Clubs’ Union, has endorsed Sweeney to remain in his position before the historic vote: “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’s reverse ferret is understood to have upset many of his former allies within the rebel cause who are now expecting to lose the vote of no confidence in Sweeney which will take place on Thursday evening at Twickenham.
The CCU was founded following the RFU’s botched tackle height initiative in early 2023 to act as an independent voice for grass-roots clubs and accrued 165 letters of support calling for a vote of no confidence in Sweeney.
On the CCU’s own website, it still lists as its No 1 objective the resignation or removal of Sweeney, Steve Grainger, the RFU’s executive director of rugby development, and Tom Ilube, the chair. The latter did stand down following the RFU bonuses scandal last year and yet the CCU told Telegraph Sport in December that his head did not satisfy their demands.
“While we are delighted that Tom Ilube has left his role as RFU chairman, as what can only be described as ‘a sacrificial lamb to the slaughter’, we remain highly concerned at the governance and accountability still within English rugby,” said a CCU spokesperson on Friday. “The resignation of Ilube is only the start for us and the appointment of Bill Beaumont as a replacement is equally frustrating. We still feel as though Bill Sweeney needs to leave his role as chief executive for the game to move forward.”
In an open letter published on the Planet Rugby website, Sigley outlined his change in position from the fury caused by the RFU’s decision to lower the tackle height to the waist while he describes the current system of English rugby as “bloated” and “broken”. However, he has now contacted clubs within the CCU, which is separate to the Whole Game Union which launched the current SGM, urging them to vote to retain Sweeney.
Sigley says that he has built a “healthy relationship” with Sweeney through in-person meetings and telephone calls and has become convinced that the figurehead for change. “The game now has to evolve: devolution of power from Twickenham, a reformed council and a modern-day approach to the needs of the clubs and its membership are key priorities,” Sigley writes. “We need our Development Officers, Referee Departments and Community coaches back out there, in the regions delivering what the game needs – telling everyone what a great game it really is.
“I genuinely believe that we, and the broader game, can work with Bill Sweeney on behalf of the CCU to deliver just that. Transparency and communication is key now, both of which have been promised, and we need to move forwards with a new Chairperson and new and fresh voices that represent the 1600 clubs in England that are struggling.”
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