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REVEALED: Tom ilube - The Real Truth

Bill Sweeney survives but unedifying saga has done English rugby little good

The chief executive of the Rugby Football Union survived a vote of no confidence by a decisive margin

The Independent UK · Mar 28, 2025

Commercial director behind £100m deal resigns in latest setback to RFU

Stuart Ramsey, who was instrumental to securing a £100m naming rights deal for Twickenham with Allianz last year, handed in his notice last month

The Guardian - UK · Mar 6, 2025

Bill Sweeney determined to stay in RFU role until 2027

Chairman Tom Ilube resigned following controversy over bonus payments to Sweeney and his fellow executives.

The Independent UK · Jan 23, 2025

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RFU to hold special general meeting after Six Nations over Bill Sweeney future

The SGM will take place in March or April after a U-turn from the RFU.

The Independent UK · Jan 10, 2025

Bill Sweeney’s RFU fate to be decided after Six Nations following U-turn

Bill Sweeney’s fate as the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive will be decided shortly after the Six Nations following an embarrassing U-turn from the governing body

The Guardian - UK · Jan 10, 2025

Former RFU remuneration chief defends Bill Sweeney’s bonus payments amid record loss

Sweeney remains under serious pressure after uproar around the paying of a bonus of nearly £400,000 in a year that the RFU made a significant loss

The Independent UK · Jan 10, 2025

RFU rebels vow to fight on after attempt to remove Bill Sweeney is blocked

A grassroots rebellion has accused the RFU of ‘postponing the inevitable’ after the governing body rejected an attempt to force the removal of the chief executive

The Guardian - UK · Jan 9, 2025

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RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney facing demands for removal

A total of 141 signatories are included on the letter that was sent to the RFU on Thursday.

The Independent UK · Jan 9, 2025

Record losses and bumper bonuses – the pay row tearing apart English rugby

Grassroots rebellion over executive pay has now seen the chair of the RFU board stand down – how did it come to this?

The Guardian - UK · Dec 20, 2024

Bill Beaumont named interim chairman at RFU as Tom Ilube resigns amid scandal

Ilube stepped down on Friday morning in response to the outcry over executives’ pay and bonuses.

The Independent UK · Dec 20, 2024

Tom Ilube resigns as RFU chairman amid pay controversy

Tom Ilube has resigned as chairman of the Rugby Football Union amid controversy over executive pay.

The National (Scotland) · Dec 20, 2024

Bill Beaumont appointed interim RFU chairman as civil war breaks out

Sir Bill Beaumont has been appointed interim chairman of the Rugby Football Union after Tom Ilube stepped down

The Guardian - UK · Dec 20, 2024

RFU chairman Tom Ilube resigns amid pay controversy with replacement lined up

Sir Bill Beaumont could reportedly fill the role on an interim basis

The Independent UK · Dec 20, 2024

Bill Beaumont could take over as RFU chair with Ilube on brink over pay row

RFU chair Tom Ilube in talks after emergency council meeting, with grassroots rebellion by clubs set to force vote of no confidence in him and chief executive Bill Sweeney

The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2024

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The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2024

Grassroots rebellion to force out top RFU executives gathers momentum

Bill Sweeney and Tom Ilube could be ousted from the Rugby Football Union early next year with both senior figures facing a motion to be dismissed

The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2024

Grassroots revolt triggers vote over futures of RFU chief executive and chairman

Two motions will be tabled – to remove Tom Ilube as chairman, a two-thirds majority is needed, and a call for the RFU to sack Bill Sweeney.

The Independent UK · Dec 9, 2024

Championship clubs call for vote of no confidence as pressure builds on RFU chief Bill Sweeney

A number of ex-chairmen have also called on the embattled chief executive to step down after a scandal over his pay

The Independent UK · Dec 3, 2024

The tone deaf decision that has plunged England’s Rugby Football Union into crisis

Uproar over the payment of a large bonus at a time of financial strife has imperiled chief executive Bill Sweeney

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Evening Standard · Nov 25, 2024

Bill Sweeney: RFU chief earns £1.1m despite union reporting record losses

Chief executive’s salary rises by 8.5 per cent over 12 months, annual report shows

The Independent UK · Nov 25, 2024

RFU chief paid £1.1m despite record losses and job cuts

The RFU’s annual report shows an operating loss of £37.9m - the highest it has recorded

The Independent UK · Nov 25, 2024

Chief executive Bill Sweeney paid £1.1million despite RFU’s record losses

Sweeney’s salary is an 8.5 per cent increase over 12 months after he was paid £684,000 in 2023.

The Guardian - UK · Nov 23, 2024

RFU accused of betraying game over Premiership promotion criteria

The former England back Simon Halliday, who was chair of the Championship, told the RFU it had betrayed clubs below the Premiership

The Independent UK · Oct 4, 2023

Bill Sweeney believes English rugby is ‘on cusp of something quite spectacular’

RFU council members sent a letter to the board raising concerns over the leadership of chief executive Sweeney and chair Tom Ilube.

Evening Standard · Sep 18, 2023

RFU rebels determined to force change at top during Rugby World Cup

The RFU council members who have sparked a civil war felt a leadership challenge could not wait until after the World Cup.

Evening Standard · Sep 16, 2023

Challenge to RFU leadership threatens to derail England’s Rugby World Cup campaign

Chief executive Sweeney and chairman Ilube have been accused of inadequate leadership

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