Bill Sweeney: RFU chief executive refuses to walk away despite pay scandal

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney is facing demands for his removal after a community game revolt submitted its request for a special general meeting; a total of 141 signatories were included, exceeding the 100 member clubs needed to trigger an SGM under the governing body's rules

Wednesday 22 January 2025 13:11, UK

Bill Sweeney has vowed to fight on in his role as Rugby Football Union chief executive despite facing calls for his dismissal over a pay and bonuses scandal.

The RFU has agreed to hold a special general meeting, at which Sweeney will face moves to end his tenure, after the Guinness Six Nations.

Annual accounts published in November revealed Sweeney received pay of £1.1m for the 2023-24 financial year, comprising of an increased salary of £742,000 and a bonus of £358,000.

Further bonuses totalling almost £1m were paid to a five other executives even though the RFU reported a record operating loss of £37.9m and made 42 staff redundant.

Speaking to The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast, Sweeney said: "I have definitely got the energy (to carry on). I mean, the easiest thing to do now would be to walk away.

"The easiest thing to do now would be to say, 'right, I've had enough of this stuff. I've had enough of this political crap that goes on. It's worse than Succession. I've had enough of all that stuff. Why bother?'

"I can't do that. I wouldn't do that. It's just unbearable to think I would just take that easy option out.

"We have got some great stuff that we've developed and we're just starting to land into the game. I know what's going on behind the scenes. I know who is involved in it.

"I'm going to stick it out. If the board tells me to go, that's fine. If they don't tell me to go and they believe I'm doing a good job - and I do believe I'm doing a good job - then I'll stay.

"And if that means taking a load more stick and flak, then okay, I'll stay."

Sweeney also revealed that he wanted to defer the controversial bonus payment that has led to calls for his removal but that he was unable to.

"I knew it was going be a major problem, quite a way before it was done," he added. "I wanted to defer it, so I said, 'why are we paying this in '23-24? Why don't we defer to '25 or '27?'

"The problem is, once you've declared an incentive programme like this, it's stated in your annual reports, and it was done previously, you accrue for it year after year.

"Even if it has been paid later, it still has to be announced and it still has to be taken in that year, so that wouldn't have changed."

Sweeney did not hide away from the gravity of the current scrutiny on his organisation, but suggested the problems may run even deeper.

Asked if he felt the RFU was fit for purpose, he said: "I do think it is, but I do think there are changes necessary."