The RFU chief executive has survived a vote of no confidence in his leadership at a special general meeting held at the Allianz Stadium.
A motion of no confidence and a proposal for the RFU directors to terminate his contract was rejected by 466 votes to 206 after an 80-minute meeting. There were 36 abstentions, with the 708 votes registered representing the largest turnout in an RFU vote for over 20 years, although it still accounted for just over 50% of the membership. A second motion proposing greater devolution of powers to the regions to address local issues was passed with an 80% majority.
The RFU interim chair called for unity following the vote and described the outcome as “emphatic” in his closing address, though the long-running dispute is expected to take time to heal. The trigger for the revolt led by an alliance of Championship, grassroots clubs, and refereeing bodies was the revelation in November that the chief executive received a significant bonus last year, taking his overall remuneration to £1.1m, despite the RFU reporting losses of £37.9m.
He urged all parties to move forward together, stating that it was time to put internal conflicts aside and focus on the positives within the game. He emphasized the importance of community rugby, reminding everyone that all players who represent the national team started their journey at the grassroots level.
The final decision on the chief executive’s future remains with the RFU board, which has consistently supported him. After securing nearly 66% of the vote, the result is viewed as an endorsement of his position.
He did not speak during or after the meeting but received strong backing from a former international referee and RFU board member. The board member likened the situation to refereeing decisions in rugby, stating that when a ruling is made, it is time to move on. The result, in his view, was a clear directive to proceed with lessons learned from recent months. He added that the interim chair had engaged with clubs to understand their concerns and that the executive team would be expected to take action accordingly.
Previously, representatives of the Whole Game Union had indicated that they would push for a second special general meeting, including a motion for the entire RFU board to resign if their proposal was defeated. However, following the vote, they adopted a more conciliatory stance.
A leading club chairperson welcomed the devolution of power and stated that clubs would continue to hold the RFU accountable. Eleven proposals for further governance changes are set to be presented at the AGM in June.
Reflecting on the vote, the chairperson noted that the result itself was less significant than what follows. The vote demonstrated strong support for change, and the numbers suggested a significant problem within the game. If this were a corporate setting, a CEO facing such opposition would likely struggle to remain in position.
They emphasized that the clubs want to see tangible changes and expect reforms. From discussions with the chief executive and interim chair after the vote, they expressed confidence that change would occur. The global rugby community had been watching, and expectations were high. Moving forward, all parties will need to collaborate to address concerns and implement the necessary reforms.
