Latest news with #BillSweeney
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
English rugby braces for pivotal vote that will decide its future
On Saturday, the British and Irish Lions make their bow on Australian soil while England settle in Buenos Aires ahead of a Test series against Argentina that begins the following weekend. But back in Birmingham, away from the spotlight, is a potentially pivotal day for the future of rugby union in this country. There, at the Rugby Football Union's annual general meeting, members will vote on a set of proposals designed to address the unrest that resulted in a special general meeting three months ago. Bill Sweeney, the chief executive, survived a vote of no-confidence in March, but the same summit delivered a strong mandate to expedite governance reform. The Whole Game Union, a body spearheaded by Alistair Bow, from Nottingham RFC, and Paddy McAlpine, of Chichester RFC, has tabled 11 resolutions in an effort to secure meaningful change and requires 66 per cent approval for them to be passed. What changes are being proposed? The resolutions include a desire for the council to be able to approve the union's annual strategic plan, as well as its budget and business plan. The thorny issue of directors' pay, which sparked outrage across the game, would be addressed with the implementation of a published 'people and pay policy', which members could comment on and influence. As a whole, the Whole Game Union's mission statement is to 'put members back at the heart of major decisions' and 'restore strategic control' to an elected council. A letter to members, seen by Telegraph Sport, lists six reasons why reform has become essential, including the removal of development officers on the ground and reduced investment, in real terms, into the community game. What does it mean for the grass-roots game? At the heart of this campaign is the belief that the RFU executive and board have neglected amateur clubs in favour of a focus on the elite game. It is felt, for example, that £33 million per year was committed to Premiership clubs 'without meaningful consultation with members'. Jeff Blackett, who served as RFU president between 2020 and 2022, has been an adviser to the Whole Game Union and backs the proposals. 'The difficultly is that the game has been struggling to become professional since 1995 and the governance structure has not really caught up to where we are today,' he said this week. 'The professional game and the grass-roots game are two different beasts and it is very difficult to have one organisation in charge of all of it. Our concern is that the senior executive and the board have only concentrated on the elite game. The community game is dying on its feet, unfortunately; numbers are down, clubs are down and fixtures aren't fulfilled. 'It's a watershed moment and these proposals are meant to redress the balance, to put some of the power back into the council, acknowledging that the council has to be reformed itself to be more accountable to its membership, so that the big decisions can be scrutinised properly.' How could it affect the RFU council? The RFU council has been branded as bloated and archaic, with Blackett describing the 2016 Sport England governance code as a 'final nail in the coffin' that reduced its power. An independent review recently labelled it as 'dysfunctional' and advised that it should be scrapped entirely. However, the Whole Game Union argues that this consultation document 'lacks transparency and ambition' and would only create a system 'where members will have less ability to scrutinise the executive and the board'. 'One of the criticisms of the council is that too many of its members are people who have done great jobs for CBs [constituent boards] and are effectively given a reward of going up to Twickenham and having nice seats to enjoy their latter years in rugby,' Blackett added. 'There are people like that, but there are also many good people. The Whole Game Union would have council more accountable to the game. One of the resolutions is for the nominations committee to write a report on each council member that will go back to their constituents. They also want to make the council smaller, because it's difficult to have meaningful debate with 60-odd people in a room, and make it so members feel an attachment to those council members. 'What we're trying to do is to restore democracy. The friction comes because it is also a multimillion-pound business and the board also has to have the ability to run that. We've got to get the balance right.' Could this impact rugby's funding? The Whole Game Union has also addressed the RFU board's criticisms of the resolutions. It disputes, for instance, that reform would cause Sport England to remove funding from the RFU and decline to support the hosting of international tournaments such as World Cups. Blackett suggested that the image of the Whole Game Union as disruptive upstarts is grossly unfair. 'The RFU position is that they're a bunch of rebels and malcontents,' he said. 'They're not. They are people with a genuine interest in making rugby a great sport again and none of them are in it for personal gain.' His endgame would be for the RFU board to oversee both the professional and grass-roots game: 'The way I see it is that the board would delegate a good chunk of money to both and effectively urge them to manage it in accordance with business plans they have put forward. 'I do think it's important that the whole game stays together. And the professional game is the Premiership and the Championship. I think there has been real, valid criticism that the Championship has not been properly supported by the RFU and that needs to be put right as well.' Voting has been open for a fortnight or so, meaning many members will have made up their minds. Blackett would urge any stragglers to give themselves an opportunity to lend their voice to a critical debate. 'The RFU is a members cooperative and every member should have a voice on major issues,' he said. 'The trouble in the past with AGMs is that fewer and fewer people have turned up and things go through without proper scrutiny. 'It's absolutely vital that members look at the merits of this and vote. And, of course, I would urge them to vote for the resolutions that will ensure the future of our game.'
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
British & Irish Lions players to have names on the back of their match shirts for first time against Argentina
The British & Irish Lions will break new ground by printing names on the back of their players' shirts for the first time when they face Argentina in Dublin on Friday night. While such a scenario has been commonplace in football for years, it is a relatively fresh development in rugby. The 2024 men's Six Nations was the first tournament in which all six competing teams did so. England's men's players have worn named match jerseys since the autumn of 2022. Now, the Lions are understood to be set to follow suit in 2025. Andy Farrell's players will have their names printed above their playing number both against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium and on their upcoming nine-match tour of Australia. Northern hemisphere rugby's historic side have never previously done so, with past players used to wearing just their number on the back alongside tour sponsors. As rugby continues to try and grow its popularity and reach new audiences, the sport has tried a number of new and different initiatives. Putting player names on the back of shirts is designed to grow the appeal of the stars on the field and also help attract new and casual fans. It has happened not before time and is a very positive move for rugby. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said in 2022: 'We think player names on shirts may have the potential to bring fans closer to the international stars of our game and we look forward to seeing the reaction to this initiative.' Named Lions shirts will be worn by all 23 members of each matchday playing squad and will also be on sale to supporters. Lions boss Farrell heaped the pressure on son Owen ahead of his broadcast debut. Owen Farrell, a three-time Lions tourist as a player, will be part of Sky Sports' coverage of the team's pre-tour fixture with Argentina in Dublin on Friday. It means he'll be passing judgement on the team led by his father Andy. When asked about his son's first television punditry stint, Andy Farrell said: 'He'll be nervous for that. I'll put it on record and watch it back, definitely!' Fresh from starring in his team's Gallagher Premiership final win, Lions fly-half Finn Russell has signed a new contract with Bath. Russell is 32, so his new deal until 2028 is likely to see him end his career at The Rec. Russell is not involved against Argentina, but was a key figure as Bath claimed an historic club treble this season. Russell said: 'I have loved my time at Bath. It's a great team and a great club. 'We've come a long way over the last couple of years and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve.' Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will make his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury when England take on a France XV on Saturday. Steve Borthwick's side will be without their Lions players. Feyi-Waboso is the headline inclusion given he hasn't played since December. Jamie George, who started the week training with the Lions, and George Ford are co-captains. England side to face France XV: Joe Carpenter; Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; George Ford (co-capt), Ben Spencer; Fin Baxter, Jamie George (co-capt), Joe Heyes, Alex Coles, Nick Isiekwe, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Tom Willis Replacements: Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Chandler Cunningham-South, Jack Kenningham, Alex Dombrandt, Raffi Quirke, Oscar Beard
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heat wave, road closures, MAX delays: Portland weekend could be a mess
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A is set to bake the Portland metro area this weekend just as drivers and transit riders face a minefield of closures, delays and detours. Highs are expected to by Sunday, potentially tying a 70-year-old record. But it's not just the sun that could bring the burn. City to pay $7.5M to 'displaced' Black Portlanders Highway 217 southbound will be fully closed from Canyon Road to OR-99W starting Friday night through early Monday as part of a recurring summer construction project. At the same time, westbound I-84 will shut down between I-205 and I-5 from midnight Saturday until 4 p.m. Sunday. Crews will be doing maintenance and graffiti cleanup, forcing TriMet to pause MAX service in the area. Shuttle buses will fill the gaps. Expect another shutdown at Northeast 82nd Avenue, where TriMet crews are building a temporary MAX platform as part of a station overhaul set to last through the end of the year. 'A lot of safety improvements are going to be part of the refurbishment of the station,' said TriMet spokesperson Tyler Graf. 'Just to give it a fresher look to give our riders a better experience.' On Saturday morning, Southwest Naito Parkway and surrounding downtown streets will close for the Grand Floral Parade. Some neighbors are taking it in stride. 'I might go for a hike on Saturday and go to church on Sunday like normal,' said Portlander Bill Sweeney. Victims in Battle Ground double homicide identified Others, like visitor Zane McGee, are playing it safe. 'Staying inside, really,' McGee said. 'Especially being a redhead. I have to make sure to wear sunscreen when I go out.' And for drivers? The forecast isn't just hot—it's potentially heated. 'When it gets too hot, people get angry, disoriented… it's chaos,' said Sandra Kitanga. 'You've got to have patience.' Despite the heat, Multnomah County does not plan to open emergency cooling centers since temperatures aren't forecasted to reach the established threshold. Officials recommend visiting libraries, malls, or other public indoor spaces. Residents can call 2-1-1 for help finding a place to cool off. Kitanga's advice for the weekend? 'It's never that serious. You're gonna have more hot days this summer.' Grocer accused of deceptive prices in Oregon stores The Oregon Health Authority has about preventing heat-related illnesses, including staying hydrated, visiting air-conditioned places and using cool compresses and misting and taking cool showers or baths. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
English rugby's second tier gets Champ rebrand in new 14-club league
English rugby union's second tier will be rebranded as the Champ from next season in a move designed to raise standards and add greater aspiration and jeopardy for clubs. Beneath the glitzy launch, however, many questions still remain. Simon Gillham, the Tier 2 chair, said that the new-look league of 14 clubs would bring a 'gripping conclusion to the season' – with the top six entering a playoff tournament for the right to face the bottom-placed Premiership club for a promotion place. However, Gillham confirmed that discussions have not yet concluded on terms for promotion, with minimum operating standards still to be agreed. The thorny issue of whether a promoted club will have to purchase a P-share, allowing them to participate in the Premiership's financial benefits and governance, has also not been decided. Ealing Trailfinders did not meet the minimum standards for promotion this season despite winning the Championship, and Gillham refused to speculate on the chances of a club from the Champ going up next year. However he insisted: 'We will do everything to be at the table and to make sure that there's proper aspiration and there's proper jeopardy. That is absolutely what we are determined to do.' Another complicating factor is that Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, recently warned that promotion and relegation 'does not work', while Premiership clubs are angling for a ringfenced league based on franchises. But Conor O'Shea, who sits on the Tier 2 board as well as being the RFU executive director of performance rugby, said that 'grown-up conversations' would take place to ensure the dream of promotion remained a possibility. 'As it stands, at the end of next season there will be a promotion/relegation playoff based on minimum standards,' said O'Shea. 'We know that only Doncaster met them this year. The discussions are, how do we improve that? How do you make it accessible without breaking clubs?' 'There is a heck of a lot of work to do,' he added. 'Our focus is the step change we want to make in the Champ. It's already a great competition, but we want all the standards across the board to grow.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Organisers are yet to announce a title sponsor. However with the bottom club being relegated, and the 13th placed club facing a relegation playoff against the National League One runner-up, the hope is that more matches will matter, leading to greater interest and bigger crowds to raise revenue. As part of England Rugby's strategy to attract new audiences, the launch video is voiced by the rugby influencer and YouTuber Max Brown. 'This is where we raise the bar,' Brown says as pounding music plays. 'Where standards are set. Where mettle is tested. Where stars rise. And where hype is realised. We build players who refuse to back down and clubs that demand respect. Communities fuelled by passion. Rivalries played out on a national stage. 'We live for the good of the game. Pushing it further. Driving English Rugby forwards. Match by match, moment by moment. This is the ultimate test. Welcome to the proving ground. This is Champ Rugby.'
Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Phil Dowson: Make Premiership a franchise league or clubs face oblivion
The Northampton Saints director of rugby, Phil Dowson, has warned that English clubs will 'sleepwalk' into financial oblivion unless the Premiership is relaunched as a ring-fenced franchise league. The Times revealed last week how the radical plan to split the Premiership from the rest of the rugby pyramid would trigger the biggest change to professional rugby in England since the introduction of the league system in 1987. Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, has endorsed the proposal by stating that promotion and relegation 'doesn't currently work' in the English game. Bruce Craig, the Bath owner, said that removing the threat of relegation would attract new investors to the league. Sweeney's comment triggered an angry reaction in the Championship. One club's source said Sweeney had 'crossed
