RFU pay row: Tom Ilube steps down as chair
Tom Ilube has resigned as chairman of the Rugby Football Union amid a grassroots rebellion that could force him to resign over the size of executive bonuses at the organisation.
Ilube, who was appointed in August 2021, could face a vote of no confidence in his leadership as a motion to sack him was backed by England’s community clubs.
The RFU chairman is the only permanent member of the agency’s remuneration committee, which oversees basic pay for all staff in excess of £180,000 a year.
“Due to recent events that have distracted attention from the game, I have decided to step down as president of the RFU, but I will remain in office to ensure a smooth transition once the new president is in place,” Ilube said.
Several newspapers have reported that former World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, a Grand Slam-winning England captain, during his playing days, May return to the RFU in a temporary role., external
The RFU’s latest accounts, published in November, showed chief executive Bill Sweeney was paid a total of £1.1m despite the organization’s record losses.
Sweeney was paid just £430,000 in 2020 – his first full year in the role – when he took a voluntary 20% pay cut for three months and opted not to take a bonus to limit the pandemic period of financial stress.
However, a three-year incentive plan implemented in 2021, with the possibility of receiving huge rewards if the RFU’s performance reaches certain targets, has sent his salary soaring to seven figures.
RFU hits record loss just two months after announcing loss Latest round of layoffs.
