England rugby chief confirms Nations Cup plans, stands firm on job

Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Wednesday discussions about a controversial Nations Cup tournament were in place as he remained confident about his ability to lead one of the sport's wealthiest governing bodies.

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The idea for the controversial competition was originally batted down in 2019 as it was criticised by some claiming it would create an even bigger gulf between the globe's leading sides and emerging nations.

During the ongoing Rugby World Cup teams such as Namibia and Romania have been on the wrong end of heavy defeats by sides who compete in annual competitions like the Six Nations and Rugby Championship.

"Two competitions of 12 teams each which give the emerging nations a much wider range of potential fixtures," Sweeney told reporters after two days of talks with World Rugby in Paris.

"And a greater opportunity to play against the more established competition," he added.

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Sweeney has been at the helm of the RFU during a tumultuous past few months on and off the field.

Four professional clubs in England have gone to the wall, Eddie Jones was sacked as head coach and there was a first Test defeat to Fiji weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Former British Olympic Association CEO Sweeney, who has also worked with firms such Shell and Adidas, defended his record in his current role.

"I feel I am the right person to do that (the job)," Sweeney.

"It's probably for others to say if they don't think I am.

"I feel I am, given my experience, the balance of business and sport."

'Core group'

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