Under-fire RFU boss Bill Sweeney rejects ‘cynical’ English rugby rebellion

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney insists he is the right person to turn English rugby around following the collapse of Wasps, Worcester, London Irish and Jersey Reds and the sacking of Eddie Jones eight months before the World Cup in France

Bill Sweeney is confident he remains the right man to lead the Rugby Football Union despite the English football world being in crisis, claiming “we are on the cusp of something very spectacular”.

Four professional clubs have gone bankrupt in just over a year – Wasps, Worcester, London Irish and Jersey Reds – while in January the Rugby Football Union sparked a grassroots revolt over the way tackle heights were reduced at community level.

On the eve of England’s victory over Argentina to open the World Cup last month, RFU councilors sent a letter to the board raising concerns about the leadership of CEO Sweeney and chairman Tom Ilube.

Sweeney stated that the “cynical” rebellion was put down at Friday’s council meeting, adding that it was organized by a “small group of people who are no longer in the game or have agendas that are not necessarily in the best interests of the be a game. “.

At elite level, England have not finished above third in the Six Nations since 2020 and sacked Eddie Jones in December, leaving his replacement Steve Borthwick with just eight months to prepare for the World Cup.

“It’s probably up to others to say if they don’t feel like I’m the right person to do it,” Sweeney said.

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“Personally, I feel that given my experience, given my background and my balance between business and sport, I am the right person to do that.

“I came into this role for one simple reason and that is because I am very passionate about this game.

‘There are probably a lot of my friends and family who would be very happy if I stopped doing it. But I do believe that we are on the eve of something very spectacular.

“This was a unique moment because of the financial challenges, because of the working relationship with Premiership Rugby, our ability to change that relationship around the partnership, to solve the things that are stopping us from winning Six Nations on a regular basis.

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“The work we do in World Rugby around the Nations Cup, the global calendar, that all plays into this as well.

“I feel like I have the energy, the passion and the desire to see this through.

‘If someone else thinks differently, that’s fine too.

“You don’t wake up enjoying it every morning, but that is why I would like to continue.”

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Sweeney was accused at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee hearing last November of being “completely asleep on the job” and told to consider resigning in response to the financial crisis that led to Wasps and Worcester coming into government.

Twickenham’s chief has promised structural reforms “to fix some of the problems that haven’t existed for some time”, ending the “boom and bust” periods when these are more based on hope ”.

Sweeney confirmed that negotiations are underway to place 25 England players on ‘hybrid contracts’, which would give Borthwick greater control over its key internationals.

On the field, England resumes its World Cup campaign in France against Samoa on Saturday at 4.45 pm.