RFU Chairman Tom Ilube Resigns Over Executive Pay Scandal

Ilube steps down following widespread backlash over bonuses and redundancies, with Bill Beaumont expected to serve as interim chairman.

Tom Ilube has resigned as chairman of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) after mounting criticism over executive bonuses, including a £358,000 payout to CEO Bill Sweeney, during a period of record financial losses and staff layoffs.
The RFU reported a record £37.9 million loss while awarding £1.3 million in bonuses to six executives, a move that has drawn ire from grassroots clubs and the wider rugby community.
A grassroots rebellion, led by the Rugby Football Referees’ Union and Championship clubs, gathered enough support to trigger a special general meeting (SGM) to address governance and leadership concerns within the RFU.
Bill Beaumont, a former RFU chairman and World Rugby leader, is expected to take over as interim chairman, although critics question his ability to enact significant change.
An independent review into the controversial bonus scheme has been commissioned, but calls for broader structural reforms and leadership changes persist across the rugby community.