Live – RFU SGM
Join us for live text coverage of the RFU’s SGM taking place from 17:00 on Thursday 27th March at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
We are going to be updating this page as much as possible during the meeting so stay tuned! Leave your comments below!
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Further quotes from Sir Bill Beaumont:
It is absolutely right that members should always have the opportunity to hold the leadership of the RFU to account. That is part of our democratic process as a membership owned organisation.
But the way to achieve meaningful changes is through open discussion, cooperation, and shared goals and so now is the time for us to come together, to strengthen our unity, and to focus on the future. The time for division is past.
Now is the time to unite behind an opportunity to renew English rugby.
18:22 – Thank you all for following along.
18:20 – Rob Udwin closes the meeting.
18:19 – Sir Bill Beamount – “The time for collaboration is now”
18:19 – Sir Bill Beaumont “lets back to the things that matter, the rugby”
18:15 – Sir Bill Beaumont takes the stage
18:13 – Voting results: Resolution One – For – 206, Against – 466. Bill Sweeney remains CEO.
Resolution Two – For – 554, Against – 127
18:12 – BREAKING – Bill Sweeney remains RFU CEO
18:10 – Voting is now closed
18:08 – Rob Udwin calls for last votes
18:07 – Question now finished.
18:02 – Questions now open
18:01 – Paula Carter comes to the stage to speak on the second resolution. “Once in a lifetime chance to change the RFU”
17:58 – Rob Udwin now begins with the second resolution:
“Members believe the Governance and Representation Review should be expedited and this should include formal consultation with the wider game. Proposals (including to address feedback from the roadshows) should be shared before the RFU’s AGM and members are to be further consulted on actions later in the year.”
17:56 – “Club members will hold RFU council members to account” – Paddy McAlpine
17:55 – Questions completed, Paddy McAlpine invited back for closing remarks.
17:52 – Ali Donnelly, corporate affairs and communication, “Two way conversations start now”.
17:50 – Steve Grainger “£30m committed to community rugby is a minimum, there is a commercial deal that will help with facility developement and we are constantly striving to increase the funding.”
17:48 – Paula Carter of Board member for Surrey “simply wrong to say there’s no interest in community rugby”
17:45 – Lots of questions, struggling to keep up!
17:42 – Polly Williams, chair of audit committee, now explaining the finances around debentures and Compass Group.
17:39 – Bill Beamount jokes that being CEO “it’s one Interim position I’m not interested in”
17:32 – Dickon Moon from London Cornish RFC says “Bill Sweeney cannot be held accountable for KPIs issued to him by RFU Board”
17:27 – “What is the timeline for the governance review”
Paula Carter – “consultation paper next month, work on recommendations over the summer, SGM in the Autumn”
17:25 – “If the CEO is made redundant, how much will it cost the RFU”
Angus – “a significant 6 figure sum”
17:21 – Rob Udwin opens to questions from the floor
17:17 – “None of the referees i’ve spoken to do not support this motion” – Wayne Barnes
17:15 – Wayne Barnes now takes the stage.
17:10 – Paddy is also the chair of “Whole Game Union”.
17:09 – Paddy McAlpine, chair of Chichester RFC is called to speak on the first resolution.
“It is resolved that the members have no confidence in the CEO (Mr Bill Sweeney) and call upon the RFU Board of Directors to terminate his employment at the RFU as soon as practicably possible.”
17:09 – House keeping complete, now to the formal part of the meeting
17:06 – Voting is now open, its a big like the X factor!!
17:02 – Rob Udwin confirms the vote is legal and that he will chair this meeting.
17:00 – RFU President Rob Udwin opens the meeting and introduces the top table including Bill Sweeney, Sir Bill Beaumont.
16:59 – Here we go
16:45 – Just a quick reminder of the resolutions being voted on at the SGM:
Resolution V: It is resolved that the members have no confidence in the CEO (Mr Bill Sweeney) and call upon the RFU Board of Directors to terminate his employment at the RFU as soon as practicably possible.
Members believe the Governance and Representation Review should be expedited and this should include formal consultation with the wider game.
What do you think the outcome will be? Leave a message in the comments.
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