Tom Ilube is stepping down as chair of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) amid an executive pay row with Sir Bill Beaumont named interim replacement
Former England captain Beaumont recently returned to the RFU council after standing down as World Rugby chair in November and will now assist on a temporary basis before a new permanent chair is appointed.
Beaumont, whose temporary role still needs to be ratified by the RFU Council, said: “I am honoured to be taking on the role on an interim basis and would like to pay tribute to the great work and passion of Tom Ilube.
“We now must look forward and I hope I can help to unite the game and drive forward the game of rugby in England at both an international level and in the community game.”
The RFU, which held an emergency council meeting on Wednesday, has announced an independent review of its executive pay plan, which features a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) scheme.
It followed outcry over RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney being paid £1.1m for the 2023-24 financial year, which comprised an increased salary of £742,000 and bonus of £358,000.
Announcing his exit, Ilube, who took on the RFU chair role in 2021, said in a statement on Friday: “I have decided to step down from my role as chair of the RFU as recent events have become a distraction from the game.
“I’m pleased that an independent review of the LTIP scheme has been commissioned and look forward to its findings once completed.
“It has been an honour to chair the RFU, and I look forward to once again enjoying the game that I grew up with from the touchline and watching it grow.”
Ilube had been facing motions calling for his removal after a grassroots revolt gathered enough support to trigger a special general meeting.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney was paid £1.1m for the 2023-24 financial year
Large swathes of the game are in uproar at the amount earned by Sweeney given the RFU reported an operating loss of £37.9m for the same period – the highest it has ever recorded.
In addition, 42 staff were made redundant in September, the England men’s team won just five of their 12 matches in 2024 and grassroots participation is in decline.
Sweeney’s position is also under threat, with a motion for the RFU board to dismiss him set to be tabled at the forthcoming SGM.
Ilube was head of the remuneration committee which signed off the long-term incentive plan that is the basis for the bonuses awarded to Sweeney and other executives.
In a joint statement, the Championship clubs and the Rugby Football Referees’ Union said Ilube’s departure would not solve all the issues and reiterated their hope of “reform” within the RFU.
“The problems in English rugby’s administration and governance go much deeper than the chairmanship and they are much more acute and urgent than the conduct of the chair and the rest of the RFU would imply,” read the statement.
“We will continue to back the motion or motions put forward at a special general meeting by the referees’ union, towards the aim of reform.
“We urge all other clubs and RFU members not to be satisfied with one resignation and not to lose this opportunity to have your say in the future of our beloved game.”