Huge pay rise for CEO Sweeney as RFU post record loss

LONDON : Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney received a pay rise of over 400,000 pounds even though the English governing body announced a record operating loss of 37.9 million pounds ($48 million) on Monday.

The annual report showed revenues of 175.2 million compared with 221.4m in the previous year, with investment in rugby at 96.1m and an operating loss of £37.9m (a drastic plunge from 4 million profit in the previous year). 

Sweeney was paid a total of 1.1 million pounds - an increase from 684,000 pounds - made up of a basic salary and bonus of 742,000 pounds as well as a payment of 358,000 pounds as part of a long-term incentive plan, making him the highest-paid CEO of a British sporting body.

That will make uncomfortable reading for the around 40 people currently being made redundant by the RFU, the third major swathe of redundancies in the last six years.

Income from the new 100 million sponsorship deal with Allianz for naming rights of Twickenham Stadium did not feature in last year's accounts.

"As expected in a World Cup year, investment in our England teams increased to 28.7m v 25.5m in the prior year," the report said. "There was 24.9m invested in professional men’s and women’s clubs and 12m invested in professional match officials, sports medicine and events and competitions."

RFU Board chairman Tom Ilube said: “Four years ago the game faced an unprecedented and unforeseen set of challenges and costs triggered by COVID. We end this latest four-year cycle with a strong balance sheet, no debt, a robust cash position and positive P&L reserves. That is the result of strong leadership and hard work from everyone involved in rugby.

"The Rugby World Cup revenue impacts we see in this financial year were