RFU to hold special general meeting after Six Nations over Bill Sweeney future
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The Rugby Football Union has agreed to hold a special general meeting after the Six Nations when chief executive Bill Sweeney will face calls for his removal. A day after rejecting a letter from a grassroots revolt calling for a vote of no confidence in Sweeney on the grounds of bureaucratic technicalities, the RFU has performed a U-turn and the SGM will now take place in March or April.
Infuriated by the executives pay and bonus scandal that came to light in November, as well as other grievances, a formal letter featuring the signatories of 141 RFU member clubs and referees societies was submitted on Thursday. Upon receiving the letter, however, the RFU claimed it contained “a number of inaccuracies” and that “it does not comply with the relevant requirements and is therefore invalid as a requisition for an SGM”.
A spokesperson for the community game rebellion hit back by declaring that the RFU was “merely postponing the inevitable” – and less than 24 hours later the governing body has changed its position. “The RFU is in the process of validating the additional information that has now been provided to request a SGM,” a statement read.
“The notice to request an SGM contained a significant number of inaccuracies. However, the RFU respects the right of its members to call for an SGM and for their views to be heard.”. The initial resolution under debate at the SGM – a date for which will be announced in the next two weeks – will feature a demand for the board to terminate Sweeney’s employment “as soon as practicably possible”.
