The Special General Meeting of the RFU took place on Thursday 27 March. With most attending online, the RFU Board successfully persuaded the majority of those who voted to retain their confidence in the Chief Executive Officer, Bill Sweeney, and to support the governance reforms which are likely to be recommended by Malcolm Wharton’s Governance and Representation review.

The results of both motions were as follows:

Resolution 1: 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.

The motion was rejected 466 to 206.

Resolution 2: 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.

The motion was passed 554 to 127.

While the Executive Committee of the KCRFU is disappointed with the outcome, it will seek to work with the RFU Board, through the Council and our member clubs, to deliver a structure which supports and invigorates the Community Game. The first part of this process will be to review the Wharton consultation ‘Green Paper’ and ensure that our clubs’ views on it are heard, respected and, where we believe our arguments and position is stronger than what is proposed, use our best efforts to convince the Board that they are acted upon.