Calls are intensifying for RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney to resign in the wake of the community game tackle-height law change fiasco.
The RFU has issued a chastening apology for the “upset” of last week’s snap decision to lower tackle-height laws to waist level for next season at every level of the game below professionalism.
The English governing body has now pledged a review of the decision, with a tackle-height level for next term likely to end up at sternum level.
Bosses at the RFU have moved to quell continued uproar on the tackle law change, that critics felt was announced without due consultation.
The RFU council voted in the changes last week, but angry members are understood to have felt misled by the details of the law revisions. But even in the wake of the RFU’s climbdown, the grassroots game has continued calls for Sweeney to resign.
Newly formed group Community Clubs Union (CCU) has 270 rugby clubs supporting its call for an RFU Special General Meeting to spark a no-confidence vote in Sweeney and the English governing body’s board.
“Bill Sweeney has shown he is no friend of the community game and has seriously undervalued the strength of the community game,” a CCU spokesperson told Standard Sport.
“We will push for his resignation or removal via the SGM.”
The CCU is now in the process of making the formal submission to launch the process calling for an RFU SGM. Each club chairman calling for the SGM must write to CEO Sweeney at the RFU, with the CCU collating the letters, that must be sent by post.
The new pressure group comfortably passes the 100-club threshold required to trigger an RFU SGM, but CCU members are now carefully ensuring they follow due process.
A contrite RFU statement left English bosses effectively chasing leniency from the community game – and for a reprieve in plotting the way forward.
“The RFU Board, Council and executive staff apologise for the anger and concern that has been created among the rugby community by announcing the decision to lower the tackle height from next season,” read the RFU statement.
“In our desire to act quickly to reduce head impacts and concussions in the community game, which represents 99 per cent of the rugby playing population in England, we have upset many of you who are the champions, volunteers, and ambassadors of our game.
“We fully acknowledge we got the engagement wrong, and we are truly sorry.
“In making our decision we were aware that France have lowered the tackle height, New Zealand will be doing so and World Rugby supports this approach. We, like the French, used the term ‘waist and below’; this has caused misunderstanding and confusion.
“We would now like the game to help us define how we describe a lower tackle height to reflect what the research is telling us in a way that is understood by all.”
The RFU has now pledged to conduct a series of meetings throughout community rugby, to find the optimum tackle-height reduction.
“We will now begin a series of forums and workshops with players, coaches, match officials and volunteers, to explain and develop the details of the domestic law variation,” continued the RFU statement.
“A large body of scientific evidence* demonstrates the risk of head injury and concussion for players can be reduced by lowering the tackle height to prevent head on head contact.
“However, we also accept that the rugby community has other concerns that this change may bring and we need to listen, understand and respond to those concerns.
“We will start inviting players, coaches, match officials and volunteers to these forums from early next week, so that we can all work together.”
