As a Welshman I was proud to be appointed the first ever Development Officer by the RFU back in 1988, under the leadership of then visionary Don Rutherford. The scheme expanded under the leadership of David Shaw to every county in England and I was subsequently promoted to Regional Development Officer for London & the South East. We helped to recruit tens of thousands of new young players and also several thousands of new coaches. This is the soul and heart of the game and to be cutting this back while over-rewarding the CEO is a total disgrace !
100%! Those redundancies have been the worst to stomach of them all. So much money wasted on pointless initiatives at the expense of many people's first steps into the sport.
The future of any sport is dependent on the new players. They have lost sight of their purpose and objectives due to greed. Its a business culture that has also been allowed to permeate in the clubs resulting in bankrupt clubs unlike other Unions. Part of the Irish improvements are a result of increasing development support at schools level which is also key to both SA & the AB's constant high standings and getting more people into the sport. Why are England going the other way ?
A Scotsman here. Quality video, Tim. I would recommend it to rugby fans of all nations. A great watch and a salutory lesson. England does not have a monopoly over poor governance.
71 year old old school second row forward here. Played back in the day when punch ups were expected and welcomed and you all shook hands afterwards, got bladdered and did it all again next year. Rugby was always run by people like Sweeney who either never played rugby or if they did they were the ones who gobbed off about the scrap on the field in the bar with their brylcreamened hair intact while we could hardly drink pints out of swollen lips!!! I hoped things might change when blokes like Jason Leonard got his feet under the corporate table, but it appears that they haven’t. Carling was right, they are still old farts and are as corrupt as they ever were. Let’s get rid 😡
It’s amazing how memories rose-tint the past. I guess it’s an evolutionary necessity: I mean, who would have a second child if they could accurately remember the process of having the first one!
I played rugby in the " non professional " Era, and my home rugby union ( Natal) played in the B section of the South African Currie Cup, the stadium was chocoblock full whenever we hosted an A section team, or the prom relegation playoff, I think ticket prices were easy to afford, but the money never went to players, who were the stars of the show, there were broadcasting and advertising revenues that went somewhere, but not to the players, so with the slow creep of professionalism, the revenue streams were redirected innpart, to the players, and the "non playing" administrators, no doubt still got their salaries and bonuses and increases every year, when finances became tighter for the paying public, the income shrunk a bit, but the administrators were still fine, just the smaller clubs suffered. Now if you are not picked up at school or varsity, you are doomed
Tim, I work in professional services and some of the work involves executive compensation. The theory says that as you cannot trust an agent to act in the organisation’s best interest you have to align their incentives with the goals of the organisation. In theory, the targets should incentivise the execution of the board’s targets. What this tells me with regard to the RFU is that the incentives have been set this way, either competently or incompetently, both indicate poor management as it fails the “eye test” (ie it looks unreasonable). Unfortunately, the theory is based on three assumptions which rarely hold true: 1. The remuneration committee is competent in understanding what the organisation requires in order to succeed 2. The targets are set with integrity and are designed to be both challenging to achieve but not impossible 3. The agent (ie CEO) is competent and has the ability to achieve targets in an efficient way Unfortunately, the agent is usually not as competent as the theory expects, committees usually don’t base their decisions with sufficient information and targets are set in a gamed manner.
Also work in professional services, all be it after a long military career and thouroughly agree that the lack of competence in setting targets and selecting the team to deliver has crippled not just English Rugby but some of the other unions as well. One of my contemporaries observed that "people are coin operated" so reward KPIs will drive everything, and as any software developer will tell you, the way you think users will access a system is never how they actually use it. So combining the win rates of the men's and women's national teams means you can stat-pad the success of one to buy out the failure of the other. The Solution to that is to have separate targets. The problem then arises that if they are different (say 80% win rate for the Red Roses and 60% for the Mens team) it seems to place different value on the two teams but if they are the same there is an argument about how competitive one is vs the other; Only NZ and France provide a real challenge to our all conquering Women's team at present. What it really comes down to is "What is the RFU for?" which you don't address in the video. What is it really for? Is it a business? Sure, make the KPIs return on investment and watch a short-term slash and save coupled with soaring ticket prices generate 2 years of good RoI, then the CEO moves on and within 5 years the game is dead. Or is it a Community Interest Company? Or a Not for profit? Short-term targets like "Recover to pre-covid participation" or "Increase revenue" can still be part of executive remuneration and generate the very issues you bemoan (rightly) on the video. Is it a Governing Body? O.K. like FIFA? (4Bn in Swiss bank accounts and a lavish lifestyle for Blatter and his cronies - seems like a business/cartel to me). Does that governing body exist to promote participation? To promote exposure of matches (tickets and media)? To make profits to subsidise a larger player base? All of these? So what are good examples? The French Union? Australian Rugby League? The NFL? English Cricket Board? We hear so much about Rugby being poorly run (looking at you WRU) but what does good look like and how and why are those examplar organisations that you identify, successful? E.g. The French trickle much more down to their lower leagues, but they also have much more money from TV deals AND stadiums are municipal so sunk costs are much lower (Plus lower public transport costs etc make a trip to watch a game lower). So, what is the RFU there to do should be the first question. Then ask where is is whatever you think it is there to do done well. Then, consider how and why. Now, you might be in a position to start to construct targets which attach reward to what you actually want rather than what you think you have said you want.
@ this is an excellent analysis, it comes down to what the purpose of the union is. You also touch on a key issue of KPI targets: they are inherently short-termist in nature. The most successful business I have come across is one where the chief executive’s pay was tied to 15-year targets and no easy way to cash out.
It’s just a massive scam. 50 years ago the difference between worker pay and senior management pay was noticeable but not ridiculous. Now it’s just fraudulent theft. It’s shameful and well called out Tim.
This is the type of corporate governance that has mostly disappeared from the corporate world because its so blatantly corrupt. How can the remuneration committee possibly sign off on this??
There is a major difference, as Tim said, between Private/Public companies executive pay and a government run organisation. The problem here is that the RFU is a sports governing body. If it was a private/public company there is absolutely no problem here as exec pay is voted on by shareholders and cannot be complained about.
@@gilliandawson6567 That is definitely true for some companies and it is shameful. But Patrick described executive pay as a "scam'' and "fraudulent theft" as if the figure is decided by the executives themselves. Shareholders are given the opportunity to turn down a pay package in publicly traded companies. As a result, the words "scam" and "theft" are not appropriate in this case.
@Benrb2004 clearly you have been asleep for the past 40 years. Most CEO compensation packages are decided by the boards of directors. Share holders vote on those positions maybe once a year but each board member's vote on issues is not made public so the CEO's picks to the board usually voted in.
Irish supporter here. IRFU bloody lucky that we had a provincial structure that allowed us to go professional in the way we did. I'm so sad that England and Wales appear to be run by idiots, because if they don't turn things around, then the 6Ns becomes lessened, and Northern Hemisphere rugby is in existential jeopardy.
French supporter here. The French Rugby Federation is an association, the executive committee, 40 persons strong is elected by the clubs. No way anyone on the EC would receive a bonus. Only the coach of each national team (15s and 7s, men and women) do. Galthié total income in 2020 was between those of Jones and Farrell.
Those terms for Sweeney to get his bonus are absolutely criminal. The targets seem like they were set up for him to 100% recieve a bonus. Including the womans Engand team as part of your % of win ratio when they are the best team in the world and have been for some time is disgusting. The top brass at RFU need to go, it's needs an overhaul. With real targets, targets that should be difficult so they work harder and WANT to trully do the best job for England Rugby. Great journalism by the way, without this video i wouldn't know 99% of the issues we are facing.
If the womens and 7´s sides only bring in 10% of the revenue, then their performance should only make up 10% of the calculations. Basic 101 stuff, weighted performance indicators.
Not when its an opportunity to grow the sport. Revenue isnt the only measurement of success. Womens rugby has increased participation and ultimately increased participation and support will lead to increased revenue. Should You Tube of just stayed as a dating site or invested and developed other revenue sources which would of been loss making in the early days ? Also which comes 1st, growing the sport or growing the business ?
@@Finderskeepers.men’s club rugby bar the top 14 is a huge loss maker and would collapse overnight . How would women’s rugby succeed in this area when men’s rugby can’t.
London Irish is a private company. The RFU cannot be expected to save private companies from mis-management. What would be the plan, give them lots of money to watch them continue to fail because they are badly managed? Same goes for Wasps and particularly Worcester.
Watch out Tim! Rassie dared to challange/criticise WR and they banned him and continue to snub his genius as a coach. Be careful the RFU don't ban you. It would be a great shame. Nevertheless please continue with your brilliant podcast.
Jip, clear to see. At the tests in South Africa you got the best journalistic seats from which to follow the game but it looks like you actually had to buy a ticket to see England vs the Boks at Twickenham.
Kinda like what 'Privatisation ' has done to the rest of England really. All the corporate heads in the Water Companies around England got their bonuses too.
A lot of Non-executive directors are friends of those who are executive directors, and vice versa. Essentially, remuneration packages are a 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.' type deal. This happens in, pretty much, every large company. It is a club, and its all about taking what they can before being found out and shuffling on to the next c-suite position.
The same thing is going on in the South African Cricket Board. They took massive payouts and disappeared. The ICC paid South Africa not to be included in the top tier cricket nations and the board took the money as payouts. No money on grass roots, no money on the big competitions and the South African team is on its way down.
Cricket is in trouble in SA. Our school, among others in our area, will no longer offer cricket as a sport option. We can't get the kids to participate. Hockey, rugby, soccer, water polo all doing great. The kids just dont want to spend hours on the field in the afternoon and Saturdays and then still deal with homework and social lives. Easier to play a1 hour match - and head on home. Also there is no real incentive to play cricket.
I'm a South African fan... English Rugby needs to be strong as it is part of our game and these non-playing characters continue to harm it through poor decisions and self-interest. Too many fingers in the pie wanting ever-larger slices of it at the expense of the lower-levels of our game. Those lower-levels generate the future and should be protected but instead we have deals and talk about money all the time. Ugh! Get rid of them!
This is the benefit of this channel, an honest rugby person who is properly involved in the game. So many journalists don’t have this rugby involvement and literacy. Insightful overview that explains how the administration of rugby is clearly in trouble
“Revenue for show, profit for dough”. My business mantra day after day. I’m self employed and if I get the formula the wrong way round, I’m bankrupt. There are NO consequences for Sleepy Bill and his cronies
This isn't a rugby problem, it's a problem with the UK as a whole. We have some of the greatest innovators and creators in the world, and THE worst managers and CEO's in the world. In every UK industry, the higher you go up the corporate ladder, the less competent the people are. Financial reward should be for financial results, not just hitting some arbitrary targets.
So the decision makers just manipulated the system to ensure they get their payouts regardless of the actual performance. Common problem with boards and execs who are not held accountable to their ultimate stakeholders....the fans.
Unfortunately, although we are the ultimate stakeholders we have no power to effect change and instead have to rely on the nominated counsel members to hold the board to account. And it looks like they havent done that at all. They had a chance to oust Bill during the tackle law change debacle and chose not to, likely the cushty corporate treatment they all receive at Twickenham had something to do with that. This counsel is also not fit for purpose, and is just another part of the ineffective governance structure of this opaque, dinosauric organisation that needs a complete overhaul.
@@cedricpicard9016 it's a fair point (and I don't do most of these things) but as we can see from the Allianz deal, the selling of the family silver can plug the gaps (for the time being)
The win ratio methodology is comedy Gold, its got to be based on wins against sides above in the world ratings. Women’s target should be separate and set at 100% given that lack of strength in the international game(Only ABs give a competitive game). The community game is a mess, too many clubs think having big numbers in mini rugby is good thing when it is glorified baby sitting ie parents kick the kids out the car and they go and do something else for a couple hours when the success should be how many of the senior teams are sourced from the junior sections. Championship could be brilliant given there are teams in areas without a Premiership clubs but its being suffocated by the RFU, look at pro d2, 3 games live on TV whilst I cant even find highlights of the championship on You Tube . Apologies. for the rant !
I was curious where Sweeney was pre-RFU - so more corporate guy than rugby man "....Bill Sweeney, has had a varied career. As a graduate, he joined Shell, then had roles within Mars, Unilever and British American Tobacco before two dream jobs; first, as Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association and for the last two years, Chief Executive of the RFU." also had a chuckle at this news report, prior to his appointment: "The Rugby Football Union has appointed Bill Sweeney as its new chief executive. Sweeney has spent five and a half years as the British Olympic Association’s chief executive and, while he has little rugby experience, does have a proven commercial track record and will be charged with guiding the RFU out of financial turmoil. Sweeney replaces Steve Brown, whose shock resignation after 14 months in the job last November came amid growing criticism of the RFU’s parlous financial state. Shortly before his departure the RFU announced a £30.9m loss following 62 redundancies."
I have always been very suspicious of CEOs who job-hop. This shows, not a work ethic, but a quest for higher pay with every new job. Such people also feel feathers as far as loyalty is concerned, ditto empathy and respect for traditions.
Unfortunately a commercial mindset is needed, in part. Look at the WRU and they have gone the other way - a board full of purely rugby people - and theyre also failing. I am sure balance is needed. And that doesnt mean Bill Sweeney.
Wales got rid of the clubs and created regions. That is where the rot started. Is there any schools development going on like with South Africa's Craven Weeks?
You're absolutely correct, there's a huge disconnect. Everything you say is correct. Yes, the RFU is a 'cooperative' not a corporation - more like a charity really. Appointed in 2019 (salary £350k) he is now being paid £750k. How? The £450k bonus is obscene. Tom Ilube will be on a similar package I guess. Why is Sweeney on the RFU Board - he is CEO, he cannot set targets for himself, and assess his own success or failure. The Remuneration Committee has ex-civil servants e.g. Yasmin Diamond amongst their number. Indeed, they are NOT fit for purpose. Don't forget Sweeney has sold Twickenham's name for £100m - can you imagine the ECB selling naming rights of Lord's? - no doubt he took a slice of that too. The game is corrupt, but it's not just the RFU, did you see the WRU executives in the box last weekend? Laughing and joking whilst WAL got crushed. Abi Tierny and Collier-Keywood have no grounding in rugby culture. At least Nigel Walker had the sense/dignity to look stern.
Outrageous what the board, top execs have paid themselves and given bonuses too when you consider the state of the game in England and the lack of funding given to the game.
Very informative video. Makes one think how Rassie Erasmus's greatest feat is not him being a back-to-back Rugby World Cup winning coach but rather the boardroom bullies and media supervillians he subdued to lay the foundations that he, his team, and the whole country's rugby ergonomics needed for the sport to be at the level it is today. Imperious.
Great video Tim. Whilst I think that Sweeney has been an absolute cluster%$"k for the RFU and I really hope he gets the boot, the financial period for which he got his bonus doesn't include last years £40m loss (I realise this is a bit of a technicality and doesn't take away from how bad the bonus looks). However the fudge about win ratios is absolutely laughable and should automatically disqualify his bonus.
The same the world over, Board members and executives treat it all like a private club, they scratch each other's backnsack and pay themselves big bucks. All the while on the troops on the ground they cut and slash. You look at the stands and (here in Australia) they are half empty, they would rather sell high price tickets and have empty seats, rather than have reasonably priced tickets and fill the stands, give tickets away and promote the game. Their business model is fundamentally flawed !
This is not just the common people being shocked at the scale of an executive's salary. The issue is we are being told English rugby is on its knees and is not financially viable long term. In that landscape how can you justify the guy at the top getting such bonuses.
This is synonymous with the current condition of the uk at the moment...the rfu have always been more a hindrance rather than a help to rugby on a whole and needs huge changes...but so many other companies and government are exactly the same so not surprised at all
Spot on. Totally disillusioned with the sport. Played, coached and even wrote a book about my club and I just cannot get enthusiastic about the game anymore. The decisions at the top are NOT in the interests of the sport and its growth in England.
Ridiculous salary for posting such operating losses - however, it was a fallow year due to the WC taking away the AI fixtures (the main revenue driver along with Six Nations), and remember the RFU has large cash reserves and the Allianz deal is worth £100m - that will be showing on the YE financials next year. I reckon his remuneration is tied into bringing that deal to the table. They’ve had more than enough to centrally contract the players they’ve offered to. The Championship certainly needs support.
Allianz deal is worth 100m over ten years, so 10m a year, which would do little to cover the losses, the site for the RFU reports isn’t working but I don’t think they’re cash reserves are that large, especially considering renovating twickenham is estimated to cost 663 million. The RFU has massive financial problems
The straw that broke Jersey's back was the indecision/stalling by the RFU in deciding funding to the second tier. The local council were prepared to back Jersey financially but couldnt commit as there were no guarantees from the RFU. They waited and waited and in the end Jersey had to close.
Have these men ever played at the top level. Do they not understand that if they have overseen a dismal National performance, job losses, clubs going bust, and ticket prices out of the reach of many within the public, they do not deserve any form of bonus!
Part of the problem is a lot of people at the top of rugby want to keep the elitism and deep down do not want to open it up. The board and executive all seem to be at the end of their roads and are more interested in glamourising the sport rather than growing it and bringing it to more people - building a long term better future for the game.
I'm sure someone else must have said this already but we just did exactly the same in Scotland! 10 million pound loss and a ridiculous payout for Mark Dodson. So I'd love to laugh at England's misfortune but unfortunately this seems to be a problem in a large number of nations
Most of the Rugby Unions around the world are reporting losses in revenue this year due to their national teams participation in the 2023 Rugby World Cup - and this is a regular occurrence at every World Cup!!! Something is not adding up with regards to the WC tournament finances.
Why does it feel like rugby is falling apart. Clubs going bankrupt, statistically less viewers, wrong law changes within the game, players not earning the right amount of money, wrong people within world rugby board and some of these unions have poor choices for members, feel these unions are clueless about which direction to follow
While it appears dark, remember it is a relatively new professional sport and there will be tough times. And it is feeling the pain from COVID and other geopolitical issues. The product is getting better, and the game will grow, there just needs to be some bloodletting first. Starting with some administrators
Well presented and definitive, spot on. The Championship has been decimated by Sweeney , complete greed and incompetence! The Championship and the Welsh leagues should break away and start a fresh Union, with sensible playing rules.
This seems to mirror what has happened in Scottish Rugby. It feels that those at the top are simply in it for themselves, not the development of the game. Redundancies at the lower echelons, players leaving the pro teams to reduce salary expenditure, less money to grass roots and yet the Board and sub-committee members appear to rake in their remuneration unchallenged
Tim, I agree with your analysis of this entire RFU situation. Given everything that has happened to rugby in England over the last decade, with declining participation/bankruptcies of Premiership & Championship Clubs/the Eddie Jones fiasco/Coaches abruptly quitting the national team/the RFU Staff lay offs/loss of advertising/loss of competitive broadcast revenues, it is simply staggering that in the wake of so much failure (completely excluding the Women's team related performances) that the Executives would receive a bonus. I know the pandemic played a large role in the downturn - it affected every sport so the RFU cannot claim exclusivity. The RFU treatment of the Championship is WORSE than the WRU's treatment of the Regions. They have literally undermined (deliberately so) the foundations of the professional men's game in doing so. It's near impossible to view the 'business contract terms' that the RFU execs got as anything less than utter incompetence by the parties who offered them.
sociopaths like Sweeney will always climb the greasy pole into these positions. The question is why is the board not under pressure, they've agreed these conditions. unfortunately we see this problem across the whole of western societies, too many layers, not enough responsibility and a complete lack of shame and honour.
Thanks for a great channel, Tim. Really enjoy it. I haven’t read all 502 comments, so excuse me if someone has already pointed this out: I think I’m correct in calculating that with a 97% win ratio for the women, the men could have had a 19% win record and he would still have achieved his KPI (key performance indicator)? That’s on the assumption that the men’s and women’s figures aren’t weighted, which they really should be. Absolutely ludicrous, and I agree that the people who decided upon these KPIs are either incredibly ill advised (I could have used a different word…) or they wanted him to succeed. It’s really an utter disgrace that people like these are diverting money from grassroots rugby into their pockets. It upsets me and I’m not even English.
Thank you Tim well said, this has been a long time coming what ever Sweeny and his band of co-directors think they are doing is not helping the game we love, so thank you and let's hope there are those who have the guts to kick him out and replace him with someone who can turn this around.
You did not win with Ox but I will keep on trying.. Asking for 2024 highlights "movie" You touched so many lives this year. A man can only keep asking! Lol
Jeez Tim. Enormous losses and the head honcho gets a huge bonus and an inflation busting increase in salary. Maybe the whole management should take their talents to Thames Water. Similar level of Chutzpah with their treatment of the grass roots - and shit achievement in performance.
Reduction in funding for the second tier(championship) and grassroots/juniors is what caused the terminal decline in Australia. ..there is precedence to take heed from.
A monthly financial video? Tim, thanks for this shocking behind the financial scenes video.. I want to know who are "they" ? The folks setting the guidelines for bonus pay, etc. Honestly, the greed disgusts me but I still want to hear how the rugby unions operate. Would you consider a monthly "financial" vidoe? Uncovering the financial truths behind the scenes?
Incompetence at the top is almost always rewarded these days. Also, the win performance target should be split in two. One bonus for men, and another for women.
If the national team excels the league excels. Check out the URC derby between Sharks v Stormers this weekend it's sold out. But most of all kids dream about being their icons. Hence Siya Kolisi becomes Scahlk Burger. Yamal becomes Messi. C Alcatraz becomes R Nadal. Coco becomes Serena. Service delivery.
People don't start out being cynical - it has to be learnt. If anyone hasn't learnt that more often than not in any context, CEO is synonymous with piss-taking sociopath, it's probably because they'd prefer not to think it.
I know it's how the world works today but quite frankly, even he had met all his achievements without any trick, even if everything was going pretty well in England Rugby, such a bonus would still remain unacceptable. I'm sure the guy already has a significant salary with major advantages, such a bonus is complete non sense, for him, for all CEOs. Would love to hear your thoughts about Workd Rugby election.
I’ve got no problem with great performance being rewarded with great salary/bonus. Anyone that argues that what we’ve seen over the last 4 years is “great” is delusional. These bonus metrics are a joke. The women’s and men’s games are the same sport but at completely different places. If you’re going to bonus results, set targets for each. There is no justification for lumping them together. Shambolic. Just like the men’s game.
I’d be willing to let that money go to him just to make sure that this guy never touches rugby again. Four professional teams bust, record loses, the community game in shambles, redundancies all over the RFU, championship funding slashed. This is a disgrace! Pay him his blood money so that he never touches the game again!
Your right, he has to go, but so must the people that set those targets, Bonus's should be paid for Winning a world cup , winning all the autumn International games and maybe top 3 on the world ruby rankings. If you set mediocre target then you get English rugby at the moment. If you can achieve the target above then your fan base will grow , interest will grow. Thanks for the video this explains a lot about the state on the game in England.
Question: Due to the serious financial and social climate we are living in, could it be the last parts of our enjoyment or mental release over the real world is being attacked to the point of being removed? When you look at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Rugby, Football and Tennis etc, we all see a significant decline in participation, funding and lack of interest due to peoples situation.
No disrespect to anyone but these super salaries for struggling companies seem to be the norm, maybe this is the last blood draws of the vampires from the sick beast. Let's make the most of it while we still can.
One thing that's being lost in the focus on sweeny and his high profile colleagues is the accountants. Who sets the budgets that are good enough to get a bonus but still lose 40 million quid. Now while I can see that there may be fallow years in a cycle because of the loss of match day revenue due to a RWC, if these are properly planned for there isn't the redundancies currently being seen. It's a horrendous look to be giving out hundreds of thousands to a couple of individuals when people have been left without jobs. As for performance, surely an overall win percentage needs to be accompanied by individual minimums for the men's and women's teams moving forwards. We've only beaten 1 tier 1 nation this year alongside a horrendous Wales, developing Italy and Japan. And while we may have been close against the Southern hemisphere teams you could also argue we were lucky to win the 3 games we did in the 6 nations
This is fantastic journalism
Appreciate you watching
Well said. These questions have to be asked and publicised
As a Welshman I was proud to be appointed the first ever Development Officer by the RFU back in 1988, under the leadership of then visionary Don Rutherford. The scheme expanded under the leadership of David Shaw to every county in England and I was subsequently promoted to Regional Development Officer for London & the South East. We helped to recruit tens of thousands of new young players and also several thousands of new coaches. This is the soul and heart of the game and to be cutting this back while over-rewarding the CEO is a total disgrace !
100%! Those redundancies have been the worst to stomach of them all. So much money wasted on pointless initiatives at the expense of many people's first steps into the sport.
The future of any sport is dependent on the new players. They have lost sight of their purpose and objectives due to greed. Its a business culture that has also been allowed to permeate in the clubs resulting in bankrupt clubs unlike other Unions. Part of the Irish improvements are a result of increasing development support at schools level which is also key to both SA & the AB's constant high standings and getting more people into the sport. Why are England going the other way ?
Almost lije rhey privatised.@@Finderskeepers.
And as an Irishman, I find you balanced and fair. Enjoy your trip to Dublin.
A Scotsman here. Quality video, Tim. I would recommend it to rugby fans of all nations. A great watch and a salutory lesson. England does not have a monopoly over poor governance.
'If you think there's a disconnect between people at the grassroots of the game and those at the top...' mirrors today's society unfortunately....
Spot on comment
Exactly
I was about to say this
Perfect comment
The powers that be have been determined to DEI men's rugby for years. I played it,watched it,supported it because it was men's rugby. Not anymore.
England RFU are a disgrace.
71 year old old school second row forward here. Played back in the day when punch ups were expected and welcomed and you all shook hands afterwards, got bladdered and did it all again next year. Rugby was always run by people like Sweeney who either never played rugby or if they did they were the ones who gobbed off about the scrap on the field in the bar with their brylcreamened hair intact while we could hardly drink pints out of swollen lips!!! I hoped things might change when blokes like Jason Leonard got his feet under the corporate table, but it appears that they haven’t. Carling was right, they are still old farts and are as corrupt as they ever were. Let’s get rid 😡
Ah, the good old days, that's the game I played too. Loved every minute on the field and in the bar afterwards
It’s amazing how memories rose-tint the past. I guess it’s an evolutionary necessity: I mean, who would have a second child if they could accurately remember the process of having the first one!
@@StopTheRotThe process of making one is rather a pleasant one, tbf
I played rugby in the " non professional " Era, and my home rugby union ( Natal) played in the B section of the South African Currie Cup, the stadium was chocoblock full whenever we hosted an A section team, or the prom relegation playoff, I think ticket prices were easy to afford, but the money never went to players, who were the stars of the show, there were broadcasting and advertising revenues that went somewhere, but not to the players, so with the slow creep of professionalism, the revenue streams were redirected innpart, to the players, and the "non playing" administrators, no doubt still got their salaries and bonuses and increases every year, when finances became tighter for the paying public, the income shrunk a bit, but the administrators were still fine, just the smaller clubs suffered. Now if you are not picked up at school or varsity, you are doomed
Sadly we've become the old men. Evolution 😢.
Different times. The craic has gone, it's about performance and monitoring. And of course, money 💰 .
Tim, I work in professional services and some of the work involves executive compensation.
The theory says that as you cannot trust an agent to act in the organisation’s best interest you have to align their incentives with the goals of the organisation. In theory, the targets should incentivise the execution of the board’s targets.
What this tells me with regard to the RFU is that the incentives have been set this way, either competently or incompetently, both indicate poor management as it fails the “eye test” (ie it looks unreasonable).
Unfortunately, the theory is based on three assumptions which rarely hold true:
1. The remuneration committee is competent in understanding what the organisation requires in order to succeed
2. The targets are set with integrity and are designed to be both challenging to achieve but not impossible
3. The agent (ie CEO) is competent and has the ability to achieve targets in an efficient way
Unfortunately, the agent is usually not as competent as the theory expects, committees usually don’t base their decisions with sufficient information and targets are set in a gamed manner.
nailed it. I think the behaviour and decisions is awful because the incentives are ill thought out. Incompetence everywhere
Sadly we saw the result of this short term profits over long term in the 2008 banking crash.
Also work in professional services, all be it after a long military career and thouroughly agree that the lack of competence in setting targets and selecting the team to deliver has crippled not just English Rugby but some of the other unions as well. One of my contemporaries observed that "people are coin operated" so reward KPIs will drive everything, and as any software developer will tell you, the way you think users will access a system is never how they actually use it. So combining the win rates of the men's and women's national teams means you can stat-pad the success of one to buy out the failure of the other. The Solution to that is to have separate targets. The problem then arises that if they are different (say 80% win rate for the Red Roses and 60% for the Mens team) it seems to place different value on the two teams but if they are the same there is an argument about how competitive one is vs the other; Only NZ and France provide a real challenge to our all conquering Women's team at present.
What it really comes down to is "What is the RFU for?" which you don't address in the video. What is it really for? Is it a business? Sure, make the KPIs return on investment and watch a short-term slash and save coupled with soaring ticket prices generate 2 years of good RoI, then the CEO moves on and within 5 years the game is dead. Or is it a Community Interest Company? Or a Not for profit? Short-term targets like "Recover to pre-covid participation" or "Increase revenue" can still be part of executive remuneration and generate the very issues you bemoan (rightly) on the video. Is it a Governing Body? O.K. like FIFA? (4Bn in Swiss bank accounts and a lavish lifestyle for Blatter and his cronies - seems like a business/cartel to me). Does that governing body exist to promote participation? To promote exposure of matches (tickets and media)? To make profits to subsidise a larger player base? All of these? So what are good examples? The French Union? Australian Rugby League? The NFL? English Cricket Board? We hear so much about Rugby being poorly run (looking at you WRU) but what does good look like and how and why are those examplar organisations that you identify, successful? E.g. The French trickle much more down to their lower leagues, but they also have much more money from TV deals AND stadiums are municipal so sunk costs are much lower (Plus lower public transport costs etc make a trip to watch a game lower).
So, what is the RFU there to do should be the first question. Then ask where is is whatever you think it is there to do done well. Then, consider how and why. Now, you might be in a position to start to construct targets which attach reward to what you actually want rather than what you think you have said you want.
@ this is an excellent analysis, it comes down to what the purpose of the union is.
You also touch on a key issue of KPI targets: they are inherently short-termist in nature.
The most successful business I have come across is one where the chief executive’s pay was tied to 15-year targets and no easy way to cash out.
It’s just a massive scam. 50 years ago the difference between worker pay and senior management pay was noticeable but not ridiculous. Now it’s just fraudulent theft. It’s shameful and well called out Tim.
This is the type of corporate governance that has mostly disappeared from the corporate world because its so blatantly corrupt. How can the remuneration committee possibly sign off on this??
There is a major difference, as Tim said, between Private/Public companies executive pay and a government run organisation. The problem here is that the RFU is a sports governing body. If it was a private/public company there is absolutely no problem here as exec pay is voted on by shareholders and cannot be complained about.
@@Benrb2004sorry, even private companies screw over the workers if they can, for larger profit for shareholders on the sweat of those same workers.
@@gilliandawson6567 That is definitely true for some companies and it is shameful. But Patrick described executive pay as a "scam'' and "fraudulent theft" as if the figure is decided by the executives themselves. Shareholders are given the opportunity to turn down a pay package in publicly traded companies. As a result, the words "scam" and "theft" are not appropriate in this case.
@Benrb2004 clearly you have been asleep for the past 40 years. Most CEO compensation packages are decided by the boards of directors. Share holders vote on those positions maybe once a year but each board member's vote on issues is not made public so the CEO's picks to the board usually voted in.
Bravo Tim. Brave, honest commentary
Irish supporter here. IRFU bloody lucky that we had a provincial structure that allowed us to go professional in the way we did. I'm so sad that England and Wales appear to be run by idiots, because if they don't turn things around, then the 6Ns becomes lessened, and Northern Hemisphere rugby is in existential jeopardy.
Plus some of the top people were excellent & driven by the success of the game - particularly in Leinster.
French supporter here. The French Rugby Federation is an association, the executive committee, 40 persons strong is elected by the clubs. No way anyone on the EC would receive a bonus. Only the coach of each national team (15s and 7s, men and women) do. Galthié total income in 2020 was between those of Jones and Farrell.
Those terms for Sweeney to get his bonus are absolutely criminal. The targets seem like they were set up for him to 100% recieve a bonus. Including the womans Engand team as part of your % of win ratio when they are the best team in the world and have been for some time is disgusting. The top brass at RFU need to go, it's needs an overhaul. With real targets, targets that should be difficult so they work harder and WANT to trully do the best job for England Rugby. Great journalism by the way, without this video i wouldn't know 99% of the issues we are facing.
Exactly the same scam happened at the FAI in Ireland through a Delaney CEO.
Great reporting Tim. 🇮🇪💚☘
Please - let's not go down that FAI/Delaney rabbit hole fiasco.
Which is I have likened Bill Sweeney as the John Delaney of Rugby Union.
If the womens and 7´s sides only bring in 10% of the revenue, then their performance should only make up 10% of the calculations. Basic 101 stuff, weighted performance indicators.
I see you haven’t heard of feminism…
Not when its an opportunity to grow the sport. Revenue isnt the only measurement of success. Womens rugby has increased participation and ultimately increased participation and support will lead to increased revenue. Should You Tube of just stayed as a dating site or invested and developed other revenue sources which would of been loss making in the early days ? Also which comes 1st, growing the sport or growing the business ?
@ If your argument is that the investment in the womens game will eventually reap a financial reward, we’re all waiting with baited breath…
When was TH-cam a dating site?
Also, it has always been a loss leader.
@@Finderskeepers.men’s club rugby bar the top 14 is a huge loss maker and would collapse overnight . How would women’s rugby succeed in this area when men’s rugby can’t.
My club, London Irish, gone……. This is a crime,
300 odd grand probably could have been a massive help to them as well! Instead it's in Bill's back pocket
They lost their Diego sponsorship after giving Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson contracts post IRFU booting them out.
London Irish is a private company. The RFU cannot be expected to save private companies from mis-management. What would be the plan, give them lots of money to watch them continue to fail because they are badly managed? Same goes for Wasps and particularly Worcester.
Watch out Tim! Rassie dared to challange/criticise WR and they banned him and continue to snub his genius as a coach. Be careful the RFU don't ban you. It would be a great shame. Nevertheless please continue with your brilliant podcast.
I'm not part of the 'in crowd' in English rugby, don't worry. I get no favours :)
Jip, clear to see. At the tests in South Africa you got the best journalistic seats from which to follow the game but it looks like you actually had to buy a ticket to see England vs the Boks at Twickenham.
@@jerrybuirski2344yeah that tells a story
This is a great explanation of the ridicule the RFU have presided over!.. Well done Tim now we need a rebellion before this game is gone for ever…
splurge all you will Tim, your thoughts are always so on point... and thus welcome.
Thanks for watching
Kinda like what 'Privatisation ' has done to the rest of England really. All the corporate heads in the Water Companies around England got their bonuses too.
A lot of Non-executive directors are friends of those who are executive directors, and vice versa. Essentially, remuneration packages are a 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.' type deal.
This happens in, pretty much, every large company. It is a club, and its all about taking what they can before being found out and shuffling on to the next c-suite position.
The same thing is going on in the South African Cricket Board. They took massive payouts and disappeared. The ICC paid South Africa not to be included in the top tier cricket nations and the board took the money as payouts. No money on grass roots, no money on the big competitions and the South African team is on its way down.
Cricket used to have superstars. I haven’t watched in years and can’t name a single player.
Yep thats what identity politics gets you.
I didn't know that. Shocking!
Cricket is in trouble in SA. Our school, among others in our area, will no longer offer cricket as a sport option. We can't get the kids to participate. Hockey, rugby, soccer, water polo all doing great. The kids just dont want to spend hours on the field in the afternoon and Saturdays and then still deal with homework and social lives. Easier to play a1 hour match - and head on home. Also there is no real incentive to play cricket.
@laurenreynders2764 I'm not a cricket fan and always felt the same at school. Still, it's a shame.
I hope every rugby fan, English or otherwise, watches this video. Fantastic content as always Tim, this situation is an absolute disgrace.
I'm a South African fan... English Rugby needs to be strong as it is part of our game and these non-playing characters continue to harm it through poor decisions and self-interest. Too many fingers in the pie wanting ever-larger slices of it at the expense of the lower-levels of our game. Those lower-levels generate the future and should be protected but instead we have deals and talk about money all the time. Ugh! Get rid of them!
‘Show Me the Incentive and I'll Show You the Outcome’ ….bonus on revenue 😂 …well played TIm!
This is the benefit of this channel, an honest rugby person who is properly involved in the game. So many journalists don’t have this rugby involvement and literacy. Insightful overview that explains how the administration of rugby is clearly in trouble
“Revenue for show, profit for dough”. My business mantra day after day. I’m self employed and if I get the formula the wrong way round, I’m bankrupt. There are NO consequences for Sleepy Bill and his cronies
amen brother
Turnover is vanity, profit is reality.
You’re being a little generous. Revenue for show, profit for show, cash flow is all that matters
This isn't a rugby problem, it's a problem with the UK as a whole. We have some of the greatest innovators and creators in the world, and THE worst managers and CEO's in the world. In every UK industry, the higher you go up the corporate ladder, the less competent the people are. Financial reward should be for financial results, not just hitting some arbitrary targets.
English rugby : it's being mismanaged
Rugby Australia: hold my beer
So the decision makers just manipulated the system to ensure they get their payouts regardless of the actual performance. Common problem with boards and execs who are not held accountable to their ultimate stakeholders....the fans.
Unfortunately, although we are the ultimate stakeholders we have no power to effect change and instead have to rely on the nominated counsel members to hold the board to account. And it looks like they havent done that at all. They had a chance to oust Bill during the tackle law change debacle and chose not to, likely the cushty corporate treatment they all receive at Twickenham had something to do with that. This counsel is also not fit for purpose, and is just another part of the ineffective governance structure of this opaque, dinosauric organisation that needs a complete overhaul.
@@jmurphy9657 you have the power to effect change, just don´t go to a stadium, don´t buy merch, don´t take a license.
@@cedricpicard9016 it's a fair point (and I don't do most of these things) but as we can see from the Allianz deal, the selling of the family silver can plug the gaps (for the time being)
The win ratio methodology is comedy Gold, its got to be based on wins against sides above in the world ratings. Women’s target should be separate and set at 100% given that lack of strength in the international game(Only ABs give a competitive game). The community game is a mess, too many clubs think having big numbers in mini rugby is good thing when it is glorified baby sitting ie parents kick the kids out the car and they go and do something else for a couple hours when the success should be how many of the senior teams are sourced from the junior sections. Championship could be brilliant given there are teams in areas without a Premiership clubs but its being suffocated by the RFU, look at pro d2, 3 games live on TV whilst I cant even find highlights of the championship on You Tube . Apologies. for the rant !
In the pro d2, all the games are shown live.
I was curious where Sweeney was pre-RFU - so more corporate guy than rugby man
"....Bill Sweeney, has had a varied career. As a graduate, he joined Shell, then had roles within Mars, Unilever and British American Tobacco before two dream jobs; first, as Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association and for the last two years, Chief Executive of the RFU."
also had a chuckle at this news report, prior to his appointment:
"The Rugby Football Union has appointed Bill Sweeney as its new chief executive. Sweeney has spent five and a half years as the British Olympic Association’s chief executive and, while he has little rugby experience, does have a proven commercial track record and will be charged with guiding the RFU out of financial turmoil.
Sweeney replaces Steve Brown, whose shock resignation after 14 months in the job last November came amid growing criticism of the RFU’s parlous financial state. Shortly before his departure the RFU announced a £30.9m loss following 62 redundancies."
I have always been very suspicious of CEOs who job-hop. This shows, not a work ethic, but a quest for higher pay with every new job. Such people also feel feathers as far as loyalty is concerned, ditto empathy and respect for traditions.
Unfortunately a commercial mindset is needed, in part. Look at the WRU and they have gone the other way - a board full of purely rugby people - and theyre also failing. I am sure balance is needed. And that doesnt mean Bill Sweeney.
Wales got rid of the clubs and created regions. That is where the rot started. Is there any schools development going on like with South Africa's Craven Weeks?
You bar far the best rugby commentator and newsman. Love your channel 😊
You're absolutely correct, there's a huge disconnect. Everything you say is correct.
Yes, the RFU is a 'cooperative' not a corporation - more like a charity really. Appointed in 2019 (salary £350k) he is now being paid £750k. How? The £450k bonus is obscene. Tom Ilube will be on a similar package I guess.
Why is Sweeney on the RFU Board - he is CEO, he cannot set targets for himself, and assess his own success or failure.
The Remuneration Committee has ex-civil servants e.g. Yasmin Diamond amongst their number. Indeed, they are NOT fit for purpose.
Don't forget Sweeney has sold Twickenham's name for £100m - can you imagine the ECB selling naming rights of Lord's? - no doubt he took a slice of that too.
The game is corrupt, but it's not just the RFU, did you see the WRU executives in the box last weekend? Laughing and joking whilst WAL got crushed. Abi Tierny and Collier-Keywood have no grounding in rugby culture. At least Nigel Walker had the sense/dignity to look stern.
Outrageous what the board, top execs have paid themselves and given bonuses too when you consider the state of the game in England and the lack of funding given to the game.
How those targets were set, in the way they were, is nuts
Very informative video. Makes one think how Rassie Erasmus's greatest feat is not him being a back-to-back Rugby World Cup winning coach but rather the boardroom bullies and media supervillians he subdued to lay the foundations that he, his team, and the whole country's rugby ergonomics needed for the sport to be at the level it is today. Imperious.
Great video Tim... hits true. Your platform is big enough to get all the big stakeholders attention and have them scared.
The problem is that they literally do not care what the rest of us thinks.
Great video Tim.
Whilst I think that Sweeney has been an absolute cluster%$"k for the RFU and I really hope he gets the boot, the financial period for which he got his bonus doesn't include last years £40m loss (I realise this is a bit of a technicality and doesn't take away from how bad the bonus looks). However the fudge about win ratios is absolutely laughable and should automatically disqualify his bonus.
Can’t be having a revenue target… shambles!!! We have the same problem in Scotland - all the old boys patting themselves on the back…
As someone who watches Coventry regularly I find the treatment of the championship shocking.
The same the world over, Board members and executives treat it all like a private club, they scratch each other's backnsack and pay themselves big bucks. All the while on the troops on the ground they cut and slash. You look at the stands and (here in Australia) they are half empty, they would rather sell high price tickets and have empty seats, rather than have reasonably priced tickets and fill the stands, give tickets away and promote the game. Their business model is fundamentally flawed !
If he had anything about him he would have rejected that bonus.
Cracking video Tim. Thanks for giving this airtime.
Great content Tim. You have opened up the game of Rugby for me with your videos.
Snout in trough springs to mind. Bonus achievement definitely fiddled.
This is not just the common people being shocked at the scale of an executive's salary. The issue is we are being told English rugby is on its knees and is not financially viable long term. In that landscape how can you justify the guy at the top getting such bonuses.
Completely agree!! Finally someone talks sense about the woman’s game investment.
This is synonymous with the current condition of the uk at the moment...the rfu have always been more a hindrance rather than a help to rugby on a whole and needs huge changes...but so many other companies and government are exactly the same so not surprised at all
Spot on. Totally disillusioned with the sport. Played, coached and even wrote a book about my club and I just cannot get enthusiastic about the game anymore. The decisions at the top are NOT in the interests of the sport and its growth in England.
“Not a good look” No Tim that is criminal. Huge salary (why?) and people got retrenched.? And the national team is struggling a bit. Crazy.
Ridiculous salary for posting such operating losses - however, it was a fallow year due to the WC taking away the AI fixtures (the main revenue driver along with Six Nations), and remember the RFU has large cash reserves and the Allianz deal is worth £100m - that will be showing on the YE financials next year. I reckon his remuneration is tied into bringing that deal to the table. They’ve had more than enough to centrally contract the players they’ve offered to.
The Championship certainly needs support.
Allianz deal is worth 100m over ten years, so 10m a year, which would do little to cover the losses, the site for the RFU reports isn’t working but I don’t think they’re cash reserves are that large, especially considering renovating twickenham is estimated to cost 663 million. The RFU has massive financial problems
13 years , not 10
Isnt there supposed to be a big project to refurb Twickenham? That'll cost 100s of millions, so this £100m will disappear quickly.
The straw that broke Jersey's back was the indecision/stalling by the RFU in deciding funding to the second tier. The local council were prepared to back Jersey financially but couldnt commit as there were no guarantees from the RFU. They waited and waited and in the end Jersey had to close.
Outrageous!
Have these men ever played at the top level. Do they not understand that if they have overseen a dismal National performance, job losses, clubs going bust, and ticket prices out of the reach of many within the public, they do not deserve any form of bonus!
Part of the problem is a lot of people at the top of rugby want to keep the elitism and deep down do not want to open it up. The board and executive all seem to be at the end of their roads and are more interested in glamourising the sport rather than growing it and bringing it to more people - building a long term better future for the game.
Great video Tim, I think your talking about the right points👏👏
I'm sure someone else must have said this already but we just did exactly the same in Scotland! 10 million pound loss and a ridiculous payout for Mark Dodson. So I'd love to laugh at England's misfortune but unfortunately this seems to be a problem in a large number of nations
Most of the Rugby Unions around the world are reporting losses in revenue this year due to their national teams participation in the 2023 Rugby World Cup - and this is a regular occurrence at every World Cup!!! Something is not adding up with regards to the WC tournament finances.
Why does it feel like rugby is falling apart. Clubs going bankrupt, statistically less viewers, wrong law changes within the game, players not earning the right amount of money, wrong people within world rugby board and some of these unions have poor choices for members, feel these unions are clueless about which direction to follow
While it appears dark, remember it is a relatively new professional sport and there will be tough times.
And it is feeling the pain from COVID and other geopolitical issues.
The product is getting better, and the game will grow, there just needs to be some bloodletting first. Starting with some administrators
It died when it left our tv screens
Pay to view is always a bad idea.
Well presented and definitive, spot on. The
Championship has been decimated by Sweeney , complete greed and incompetence! The Championship and the Welsh leagues should break away and start a fresh Union, with sensible playing rules.
Not the first time a board has self awarded ridiculous bonuses
RFU is just a public school old boys club
Let them eat cake
This seems to mirror what has happened in Scottish Rugby. It feels that those at the top are simply in it for themselves, not the development of the game. Redundancies at the lower echelons, players leaving the pro teams to reduce salary expenditure, less money to grass roots and yet the Board and sub-committee members appear to rake in their remuneration unchallenged
Haha love this energy Tim. Stick it to him. What a joke
Just WOW Tim. Gobsmacked!
Wow Tim the RFU sounds like the South African government. I didn’t know it’s possible to be so corrupt
most governments are corrupt even the mighty usa
so, replacements ('bomb squad' ...) and the scrum are not "in the spirit of the game", but sheer greed is? where is the outcry?
Tim, I agree with your analysis of this entire RFU situation. Given everything that has happened to rugby in England over the last decade, with declining participation/bankruptcies of Premiership & Championship Clubs/the Eddie Jones fiasco/Coaches abruptly quitting the national team/the RFU Staff lay offs/loss of advertising/loss of competitive broadcast revenues, it is simply staggering that in the wake of so much failure (completely excluding the Women's team related performances) that the Executives would receive a bonus. I know the pandemic played a large role in the downturn - it affected every sport so the RFU cannot claim exclusivity. The RFU treatment of the Championship is WORSE than the WRU's treatment of the Regions. They have literally undermined (deliberately so) the foundations of the professional men's game in doing so. It's near impossible to view the 'business contract terms' that the RFU execs got as anything less than utter incompetence by the parties who offered them.
sociopaths like Sweeney will always climb the greasy pole into these positions. The question is why is the board not under pressure, they've agreed these conditions. unfortunately we see this problem across the whole of western societies, too many layers, not enough responsibility and a complete lack of shame and honour.
Sweeney has needed to go for many years
Thanks for the video Tim and for informing us of the administration and business side of English rugby
Thanks for a great channel, Tim. Really enjoy it. I haven’t read all 502 comments, so excuse me if someone has already pointed this out: I think I’m correct in calculating that with a 97% win ratio for the women, the men could have had a 19% win record and he would still have achieved his KPI (key performance indicator)? That’s on the assumption that the men’s and women’s figures aren’t weighted, which they really should be. Absolutely ludicrous, and I agree that the people who decided upon these KPIs are either incredibly ill advised (I could have used a different word…) or they wanted him to succeed. It’s really an utter disgrace that people like these are diverting money from grassroots rugby into their pockets. It upsets me and I’m not even English.
Tim, great video. Also remember the gms system which is clumsy at best and has been badly rolled out as well as expensive.
It was the same with the SRU and Dodson and Jeffrey, Several years ago he was paid £1m and the club game was in ruins
Thank you Tim well said, this has been a long time coming what ever Sweeny and his band of co-directors think they are doing is not helping the game we love, so thank you and let's hope there are those who have the guts to kick him out and replace him with someone who can turn this around.
A shocker… greed is a disease…
You did not win with Ox but I will keep on trying.. Asking for 2024 highlights "movie" You touched so many lives this year. A man can only keep asking! Lol
Jeez Tim. Enormous losses and the head honcho gets a huge bonus and an inflation busting increase in salary. Maybe the whole management should take their talents to Thames Water. Similar level of Chutzpah with their treatment of the grass roots - and shit achievement in performance.
Well said Sir, details are important and you've revealed some very thought provoking information I was not aware of. Keep it up.
Reduction in funding for the second tier(championship) and grassroots/juniors is what caused the terminal decline in Australia. ..there is precedence to take heed from.
A monthly financial video? Tim, thanks for this shocking behind the financial scenes video.. I want to know who are "they" ? The folks setting the guidelines for bonus pay, etc. Honestly, the greed disgusts me but I still want to hear how the rugby unions operate. Would you consider a monthly "financial" vidoe? Uncovering the financial truths behind the scenes?
This is a good idea.
Fantastic and honest take on a sensitive situation.
The disconnection from top to bottom is abhorrent and has been for some time.
Incompetence at the top is almost always rewarded these days.
Also, the win performance target should be split in two. One bonus for men, and another for women.
If the national team excels the league excels. Check out the URC derby between Sharks v Stormers this weekend it's sold out. But most of all kids dream about being their icons. Hence Siya Kolisi becomes Scahlk Burger. Yamal becomes Messi. C Alcatraz becomes R Nadal. Coco becomes Serena. Service delivery.
Great reporting Tim. Thanks
People don't start out being cynical - it has to be learnt. If anyone hasn't learnt that more often than not in any context, CEO is synonymous with piss-taking sociopath, it's probably because they'd prefer not to think it.
Perfectly presented and to the point.
I know it's how the world works today but quite frankly, even he had met all his achievements without any trick, even if everything was going pretty well in England Rugby, such a bonus would still remain unacceptable. I'm sure the guy already has a significant salary with major advantages, such a bonus is complete non sense, for him, for all CEOs.
Would love to hear your thoughts about Workd Rugby election.
Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. Well done for calling them out. ALL journo's should be doing this.
A beautifully eloquent rant Tim. Quality.
I’ve got no problem with great performance being rewarded with great salary/bonus. Anyone that argues that what we’ve seen over the last 4 years is “great” is delusional. These bonus metrics are a joke. The women’s and men’s games are the same sport but at completely different places. If you’re going to bonus results, set targets for each. There is no justification for lumping them together. Shambolic. Just like the men’s game.
100%. Hard agree.
100% agree with you’re early comment: I think everyone is annoyed by their Union’s performance. Just look at Wales.
I’d be willing to let that money go to him just to make sure that this guy never touches rugby again. Four professional teams bust, record loses, the community game in shambles, redundancies all over the RFU, championship funding slashed. This is a disgrace! Pay him his blood money so that he never touches the game again!
Your right, he has to go, but so must the people that set those targets, Bonus's should be paid for Winning a world cup , winning all the autumn International games and maybe top 3 on the world ruby rankings. If you set mediocre target then you get English rugby at the moment. If you can achieve the target above then your fan base will grow , interest will grow.
Thanks for the video this explains a lot about the state on the game in England.
100%.
RFU and UK government could be interchangeable. Useless from top to bottom (P.S. I'm from South Africa, looking in from the outside).
Saffa on the inside for the last 20 years and "it's not corruption if it's british" has proven to be the most valid phrase I've learned here.
This happens with all the CEO’s of all corporations… because they can get away with it
Question: Due to the serious financial and social climate we are living in, could it be the last parts of our enjoyment or mental release over the real world is being attacked to the point of being removed? When you look at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Rugby, Football and Tennis etc, we all see a significant decline in participation, funding and lack of interest due to peoples situation.
No disrespect to anyone but these super salaries for struggling companies seem to be the norm, maybe this is the last blood draws of the vampires from the sick beast. Let's make the most of it while we still can.
Paid 1.1 million whilst signing off on 40 redundancies. What a cnt
Fair balanced assessment of the mismanagement at the top of England rugby 😊
Utter disgrace, The RFU board are clearly out of touch with the grassroots. Over paid and then a bonus, get rid of him and the other hangers on.
One thing that's being lost in the focus on sweeny and his high profile colleagues is the accountants. Who sets the budgets that are good enough to get a bonus but still lose 40 million quid. Now while I can see that there may be fallow years in a cycle because of the loss of match day revenue due to a RWC, if these are properly planned for there isn't the redundancies currently being seen. It's a horrendous look to be giving out hundreds of thousands to a couple of individuals when people have been left without jobs.
As for performance, surely an overall win percentage needs to be accompanied by individual minimums for the men's and women's teams moving forwards. We've only beaten 1 tier 1 nation this year alongside a horrendous Wales, developing Italy and Japan. And while we may have been close against the Southern hemisphere teams you could also argue we were lucky to win the 3 games we did in the 6 nations
"swerve this video" lol hows Tim getting down with the lingo.