Championship clubs' fury at 'secret' plan sparked RFU revolt

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Championship clubs' fury at 'secret' plan sparked RFU revolt

Writing on behalf of the 'grassroots' game, Alistair Bow says the World Cup being used as cover for the unnecessary acceleration of a reform
By Charles Richardson, Rugby Reporter 22 September 2023 ? 5:29pm


The Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby stand accused of ignoring the wishes of the Championship and ?working against the interests of the game? beneath international and top-tier level by clubs in the second tier.

In a letter to the editor of the Telegraph, which can be read in full below, Alistair Bow, vice-chairman of the Championship and chairman of Nottingham, claimed that his clubs have ?had enough? of the lack of consultation from those discussing the new Professional Game Partnership (formerly known as agreement), the contents of which remain a ?secret? to clubs in the second tier of English rugby.

Earlier this week, Telegraph Sport exclusively reported that 30 RFU council members had revolted against the leadership of chief executive Bill Sweeney and chair Tom Ilube. The group cast doubts on the governing body?s ability to afford a new Professional Game Partnership - a multi-year deal between Premiership Rugby, the clubs and the RFU in relation to how the professional game is managed - worth ?128 million over the next four years.

In response to a Telegraph Sport column from former England and Nottingham hooker Brian Moore bemoaning the timing of the rebellion, Bow claims that the ineptitude of the RFU?s Executive forced a revolt to occur at the earliest opportunity.

?In your columns, Brian Moore, a man of whose playing record my club is immensely proud, takes to task those who have dared to challenge the powers that be in English rugby,? Bow wrote. ?He says they should not have made this challenge at the time they did - during the World Cup.?

?The RFU Executive has dictated the timing of any rebellion... by attempting to push through a new eight-year Professional Game Partnership - in league with Premiership Rugby - that would reform the professional game precisely as they want, but not as Championship clubs, nor the bulk of the community game in leagues below tier two, desire.

?Unconsulted and ignored, the grassroots of the game have called ?enough?! They were not prepared to sit back politely to watch the Rugby World Cup being used as cover for the unnecessary acceleration of a reform that - to the extent that any of its secret contents can be known - appears to work against the interests of the rest of the game below the elite level of the national team and the Premiership.?

Bow highlighted that ?neither the Championship nor any of its representatives have signed the letter? which was submitted by almost half of RFU council members outlining concerns over the leadership of Sweeney and Ilube but that his understanding of the letter was to call ?for an explanation of the motives behind the actions of the Executive and for the type of transparency and accountability that is expected of a representative body such as the RFU?.

?Those representing the interests of the rest of the game are fed up with being treated as unimportant and inferior,? Bow added.

?They have spoken up.?

In response, the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the Professional Game Board said in a joint statement: ?There have been regular meetings with representatives from the Championship executive, which includes Mr Bow. We have been openly discussing the strategy and direction of the Professional Game Partnership; including the delivery of the Premiership Cup involving Championship clubs and the discussions around the creation of Prem 2 as well as discussions with the National Leagues. We welcome all constructive contributions to this partnership which is seeking the best solutions for both the community game and the top two tiers of rugby in England.?

Alistair Bow?s letter to the Telegraph in full

The grassroots of the game has been unconsulted and ignored?

Sir,

In your columns, Brian Moore, a man of whose playing record my club is immensely proud, takes to task those who have dared to challenge the powers that be in English rugby.

His complaints were against the 30 members of the RFU Council who signed a letter calling for greater accountability of the union?s Executive, a body that has presided over a financial crisis that has become a playing crisis as evidenced by the performance of the England national team.

He says they should not have made this challenge at the time they did - during the World Cup - nor in the way they did, without, in his view, providing any alternative answers.

Brian may not be aware of the actual situation at HQ, but the fact is that it is the RFU Executive that has dictated the timing of any rebellion by the rank and file of rugby union - and I should quickly point out that neither the Championship nor any of its representatives have signed the letter complained of.

But we do know that it is the Executive that determined the timing: by attempting to push through a new eight-year Professional Game Partnership - in league with Premiership Rugby Ltd - that would reform the professional game precisely as they want, but not as Championship clubs, nor the bulk of the community game in leagues below tier two, desire. Unconsulted and ignored, the grassroots of the game have called ?enough?! They were not prepared to sit back politely to watch the Rugby World Cup being used as cover for the unnecessary acceleration of a reform that - to the extent that any of its secret contents can be known - appears to work against the interests of the rest of the game below the elite level of the national team and the Premiership.?

On Brian?s second point, the letter writers were not calling for specific types of change, but for an explanation of the motives behind the actions of the Executive and for the type of transparency and accountability that is expected of a representative body such as the RFU. Those representing the interests of the rest of the game are fed up with being treated as unimportant and inferior. They have spoken up. Brian should learn more about the realities of what has happened in recent weeks and months among this sport?s administrators before condemning those who he believes have risen above their allotted station to call for fair play.

Yours sincerely, Alistair Bow
Chairman, Nottingham RFC