Defiant Bill Sweeney has seen off a “cynical” RFU rebellion, insisting he remains the right man to keep leading the embattled organisation.
The RFU chief executive has also made the extraordinary claim that English rugby is “on the cusp of something quite spectacular” amid the domestic game’s latest governance overhaul.
Sweeney spoke publicly for the first time in 290 days on Wednesday, bidding to solidify his RFU position and set a new agenda for the English game’s future.
The RFU boss had to thwart an outright challenge to his leadership that was launched on the eve of England’s Rugby World Cup campaign – but is now confident he has quashed that revolt.
Sweeney revealed the RFU council motion challenging his leadership was withdrawn in Friday’s latest meeting of the 65-strong body. Sweeney has overseen a 12-month period where four professional clubs have collapsed and the grassroots game mounted a challenge against his leadership in January over tackle-height consultation.
England slipped to their worst calendar-year results since 2008 before Eddie Jones was sacked, just nine months out from the World Cup. Members of the RFU council then tabled a motion to challenge Sweeney’s suitability to continue as chief executive last month, in another blow to his tenure.
Class-action concussion lawsuits are being prepared against governing bodies at all levels of the game and professional clubs are fighting for their futures amid a bleak outlook for rugby.
Sweeney steadfastly believes however that the new Professional Game Partnership, being negotiated now to come into force next season, can push English rugby back onto a sound footing.
The RFU boss confirmed plans for 25 hybrid contracts for top England players, with the union funding part of their salaries to gain extra player control and access. Sweeney also wants to see a Professional Game Board formed to govern all pro rugby in England, leaving the RFU council to manage the grassroots game.
England can look forward to a World Cup quarter-final under Steve Borthwick’s stewardship, and Sweeney believes there are plenty more positives ahead despite a generally gloomy outlook for rugby.
“We have been dealing with 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 game,” said Sweeney.
“We found receipt of a resolution on the night before the Argentina game, when there was some hope and maybe expectation that we might lose to Argentina, therefore creating additional pressure.
“To receive a resolution at that stage was pretty cynical and did not have the best interests at heart. It was not accurate. We discussed it at council on Friday and that resolution was withdrawn. The vast majority of council are really keen to work with us in a more open and transparent way.”
In reasserting his suitability as RFU chief executive, Sweeney delivered that bold claim on rugby’s “spectacular” future.
Asked why he is the right man to continue at the RFU helm, Sweeney replied: “It’s probably for others to say if they don’t feel I am the right person to do it.
“I personally feel, given my experience, given my background, my balance of business and sport, that I am the right person to do that. I do believe that we are on the cusp of something quite spectacular here.
“This has been a unique moment in time, because of the financial challenges, because of the working relationship with Premiership Rugby, our ability to change that relationship around the partnership, to fix the things that have stopped us winning Six Nations championships on a regular basis.
“The work that we’re doing in World Rugby around Nations Cup, the global calendar, that all plays into this as well. And I feel that I have the energy, that I’ve got the passion and I’ve got the desire to see this through.
“Now if somebody else thinks differently about that, that’s also equally fine, but that’s the reason why. You don’t wake up every morning enjoying it, but that’s the reason why I would like to carry on.
“We are also asking do we have the professional game managed by one entity, and then the council is totally focused on the needs of the community game.”
Sweeney and England head coach Borthwick believe the two-tier hybrid contracts can both keep top players on home soil and boost Test performance.
The 25 players to fall under joint control will be subject to more influence from England in their daily rugby activities than ever before.
“We have been talking about a number of 25, and we have been talking about 25 for quite some time now, maybe two or three years, in terms of what it would take to have a core group of players that you manage through the system and you have more direct control over,” said Sweeney.
“It gets quite complex and it is not finally done, so it is a bit premature to go into any details of how that works, but that is the number.”
