RFU statement from Board meeting


By RFU Press Release
June 29 2011

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) Board of Directors met today for its regular monthly meeting. Key agenda items included appointing an Acting CEO, hiring a new CEO and appointing an Independent Non-Executive Director.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) Board of Directors met today for its regular monthly meeting. Key agenda items included appointing an Acting CEO, hiring a new CEO and appointing an Independent Non-Executive Director.

The Board agreed as follows:

  • Martyn Thomas was confirmed as Acting CEO of the RFU until such time as a new CEO is appointed
  • Given the Governance issues arising from Thomas’ joint role as Chairman and CEO, Peter Baines, as Senior Non-Executive, will chair Board meetings and monitor Thomas’ tenure as CEO
  • The Board agreed to form a small panel to lead the search for the new CEO and that panel will choose whether to use external advisors and if so whom. The chairman of that panel will be confirmed in the next 48 hours
  • The Board unanimously committed to accelerate the appointment of an Independent Non-Executive Director and will take proposals for doing so to the RFU Council meeting on 10th July

In addition the Board took an important step forward in agreeing the long term shape and vision for the RFU field force. It committed to confirm the contracts for all its 132 Community Rugby Coaches (CRCs), many of which are partnership funded, for the financial year starting 1 July 2011 and also agreed to fully fund 120 CRC roles for the financial year starting 1 July 2012.

Peter Baines, Senior Non-Executive Director, commented, “The Board felt it was important, at the current time, to maintain stability in the Union in challenging times. Martyn has done an excellent job in taking over the day-to-day running of the Union since John Steele’s departure and it was felt he was the best person to continue until a new CEO is chosen. In addition we have taken important decisions around other key issues of governance and around securing the futures of key staff. It was a positive and productive meeting.”

Martyn Thomas, Acting CEO, added, “It is important to remember that the RFU itself is in a good position despite recent events. We are set to end the year by beating our budget targets and performances on the field this season by our senior team, Saxons, U20s and Women’s team have all been strong. Finally we have just announced our new Choose Rugby initiative to drive recruitment and retention in our clubs with the O2 Touch programme as the first element of that. So while we accept recent weeks have been challenging there are many good things happening and I am greatly excited by the privilege of leading the RFU as Acting CEO.”

Thomas and Baines take up their roles immediately and will revert to their previous positions on the day the new CEO takes up office.

The Performance Director review group has not met yet so no discussion was had on that topic.

 

RFU statement from Board meeting
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 29/06/2011 18:29

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net