RFU Board and Council roles ratified at AGM
At today’s AGM, Rugby Football Union (RFU) member clubs ratified the decisions made by the RFU Board to appoint Tom Ilube CBE as successor to Chair, Andy Cosslett and Polly Williams to take over as Independent Non-Executive Director from Helen Weir. Both take up their new positions from 1 August.
RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said: “I’d like to thank Andy for all his work over nine years on the RFU Board; the final five as its Chair, as well as four years as Chair of England 2015. Under his leadership, investment into the game has risen significantly with an 89% growth in investment into the community game in the 2016/20 cycle compared to the period 2004/08.
"Greater emphasis has been given to the women’s game with England players awarded full-time contracts and the Premier 15s league established, the Six Nations partnership negotiations with CVC, upgraded Board governance and processes, and prudent financial management which has enabled the RFU to weather the financial challenges of the pandemic, to name but a few.
“Andy has been a hugely valuable sounding board and support since I joined the RFU in 2019 and his knowledge of the overall game and business experience have been a major benefit to me personally. On behalf of the entire organisation I’d like to wish him well.
“I’d also like to welcome Tom to the RFU and look forward to working with him over the coming years. We have had very positive discussions in recent weeks and I know he’ll be a huge asset to the organisation.”
Commenting after the AGM, Andy said: “It has been a huge privilege to work at the top of a sport that has played such a big part in my life. I’d like to thank all my colleagues on the Board as well as the RFU executive team for their dedication and support in driving the sport forward, particularly during my time as Chair.”
“This has been a challenging period but we have come through it by working closely together as a game. It’s great to see people playing in our community clubs again and attending games, even if still in restricted numbers. In my remaining time as Chair my priorities are to continue to support the recovery of our sport and to ensure a smooth handover with Tom to whom I wish every success going forward.’
During the AGM, member clubs also ratified a decision, approved by Council Members in November 2020, to keep the Presidential team in their current positions for the 2021/22 season.
Also presented to member clubs at the AGM were the appointments of 13 new Council Members, as elected by their Constituent Bodies.
Elected officials and appointments (terms begin 1 August 2021)
Board appointments
Tom Ilube - Chair
Polly Williams - Independent Non-Executive Director
RFU Council
Continue for one-year term
President - HH Jeff Blackett
Senior Vice President - Nigel Gillingham
Junior Vice President - Rob Briers
Re-appointed
Lou Latter – continues as the women’s and girls’ Council representative
New members as elected by their Constituent Bodies:
Simon Winman – Buckinghamshire
Colin Free – Cheshire
Rob Masters – Devon
John Constable – Dorset and Wiltshire
John Hole – England Colleges
Simon Thornton – Gloucestershire
Eddie Keal – Middlesex
Charlie Hemmings – North Midlands
Penny Stewart – Northumberland
Jackie Dyer – Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire
Nigel Melville – PRL
John Crate – Surrey
Joe Bedford – Yorkshire
