RFU Turkeys choose Not to Vote for Christmas.

The Slaughter and May review into the set-up of the RFU recommended a much smaller management board (down from 20 to 5 I think) and a reduction in the RFU council from 61 members to 25. This would have given us a sensible stream lined board with two groups reporting in to it one managing the professional game and another for grass roots rugby. It would also have meant that Oxford and Cambridge would each lose their representatives and the Armed forces losing two of their three representatives.

It all made good logical sense - but of course there was no way the Council Members would have voted for a cull of themselves. After all these 61 members cost the RFU £1.5m in expenses last year - most of that for first class travel to London and 5* hotels so the members can attend matches at Twickenham. Actually doing any work or representing their "constituencies" seems to take second place. This money comes straight of the Grass Roots £18m budget. How many extra Development officers, Coaching/Refereeing courses could we have if we got rid of some of the old farts.

It is sad to think that the FA is better run than the RFU.

FIFA'S better run than the RFU LT.

I'm pretty certain nothing will be done until the RFU is forced down the democratic route, whether that can be achieved by the clubs or whether it would require the drastic action of Government intervention I don't know.

What I do know is that our clubs will still struggle in Europe and our International team will still struggle at Test level until the RFU is changed for the good of the game.

PJHolybloke wrote:FIFA'S better run than the RFU LT.

You know what, I think you are right. May be less corrupt too

I'm pretty certain nothing will be done until the RFU is forced down the democratic route, whether that can be achieved by the clubs or whether it would require the drastic action of Government intervention I don't know.

Not sure there is any legal reason for the Govt to step in. The only way I can see it changing is if:

a) Some of the 61 old farts develop a conscience (unlikely)
b) The clubs take matters into their own hands and leave the RFU (unlikely but not impossible)
c) The constituent bodies that the old farts represent realise that they are losing money and it will only get worse as RFU and English Rugby is a laughing stock and choose new representatives who care about the game.
d) The IRB remove the right to hold the World Cup from England.

I think I was reaching a little with Government intervention LT, but as the RFU is a Friendly Society, they have to adhere to some pretty stringent regulations, they would have to be in breach of those before the Law could intervene.

Out of the options above I think b) is the most likely course of action, Tigers couldn't buy a win without their WC players at the start of this season, I doubt it will happen as the squad is too good, but what if Tigers missed out on 6th place at the end of the season due to the bad start?

That would be a massive blow to Leicester but would the RFU come running with the offer of compensation for consequential revenue loss? No chance.

The RFU is wholly owned by it's members, that is the "clubs" that have 61 representatives on the council, but the overwhelming majority of the revenue generated by the RFU is provided directly or indirectly by the 12 Premiership clubs, revenue from Test matches, club matches at HQ, player image rights etc.

Considering that they produce so much of the RFU revenue, how is it in their interests to only have a 20% say in how the RFU is run?!

Probably contentious in the current climate, but why do the armed forces need so many members - or any at all for that matter?

Let's be honest, the game in England is not going to move forward anytime soon with the RFU in it's current form, and the only way to change anything is for the Professional clubs to force those changes, but as you said, that's unlikely.

Depressing isn't it?