RFU Board Chairman vacates seat following scandal 

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union Board Chairman Tom Ilube has vacated his position ahead of an in independent review of it’s controversial pay scheme amid concerns for the game.

It seems like the circumstances surrounding the huge bonuses received by RFU Chief Executive Officer Bill Sweeney and Chairman Tom Ilube have caused loads of damage.

Reuters reported that Sweeney was paid a total of 1.1 million pounds (US$1.38 million) in the last accounting year, despite the RFU posting a record operating loss of 37.9 million pounds (US$48 million) and making more than 40 staff redundant in September.

Sweeney received a 358,000 pounds bonus and five other executives shared a million pounds as part of a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) agreed after they took pay cuts during the COVID pandemic.

The payments were heavily criticised by former RFU leaders and many in the grass roots game and the decision-making Council reacted to the situation on Wednesday.

On Friday, December 20, Ilube has vacated his position and issued the following statement:

“I have decided to step down from my role as Chairman of the RFU as recent events have become a distraction from the game, but will stay on to ensure a smooth transition to a new Chairman as soon as one is in place.

“I’m pleased that an independent review of the LTIP scheme has been commissioned and look forward to its findings once completed.

“It has been an honour to Chair the RFU, and I look forward to once again enjoying the game that I grew up with from the touchline and watching it grow.”