The loss of income form twickenham was going to have an impact.

Of course that should apply equally to the 12 as to the 1,200 non Premiership clubs.

If thats the case I'm in. 

Remember back in 2015, RWC here in England, the most profitable ever? That money was to be invested in the game. Remember the great AGP programme, 100 artificial pitches to be built the length and breadth of the country giving year round pitch access and a revenue stream for the hosting clubs and the RFU? Except due to costs that was pulled in 2018 after I think 15 were completed. Reasoning being that the new Hospitality Venue being built at Twickenham was costing more than planned and some belts needed a bit of tightening. 2019 a record financial commitment to the National Teams World Cup campaign because "Eddie is the man to deliver...." sees a brilliant victory over the ABs but a poor show in the final. The RFU still offer the incumbent coach a new contract and an annual salary of £750,000. Meanwhile first round of staff cuts at the RFU see some knowledgeable people go in various departments. 

The game itself seems in its worst state with the RFU Competitions Department literately fiddling when the RFU League structure burns, the breakaway in Lancashire which now incorporates Cheshire and the Championship being "defunded", travel funding pulled and no access to International Tickets for all clubs  next season as they need to keep Sponsors happy and offer places in the Hospitality suites at a price in which you could fly to New Zealand never mind watch them at TW2! 

The CEO tells every club apart from the Prem 12/13 clubs that you're all part of the Community game and we can't afford a second tier of professional rugby. Starters orders for Ringfencing.

Enter stage left - Covid-19

More belt tightening, people are asked and agree to take pay cuts for example how will Mr. Jones survive on his revised salary of £562,500 per year? Remembering of course that his last gig was back in March and its unlikely he'll have another until November? 70% of RFU staff get furloughed not the important one's you know Head of Media, Game Development just the one's who do the running around from club to club, school to school, true they couldn't do that but they are still being paid mainly by the Taxpayer not the RFU.

So we come to yesterday, Mr. Sweeney and his Board (don't get confused with the RFU Council aka the 57 old farts) mainly made up of salaried Executives who have a shake of the piggy bank and realise they might have to increase their own pay cuts and get by on £200K each (cancel the Foie Gras or buy it from Aldi)

More jobs to go, living in North I'll bet a higher percentage will be in the Field staff up here. Why?

Well the RFU use their CRCs/RDO's as cheap labour (liaisons) on Match Days at Twickenham so if you drag someone down from up North you have to pay travel and accommodation, you don't if you use a CRC from the Home Counties. 

The game is falling apart and whilst announcing that 25% of RFU staff are to go they provide a link to a cheery video praising everyone's patience during the pandemic, no need for a fruit filter here..........Huckleberry Crass! 

I can certainly say the Kent Rugby Dev Officers & Community Coaches do a great job supporting grassroots rugby - excellent coaching sessions & really helpful on any club issues that come up - all good rugby people - They do have nice RFU 4x4s though!

Excellent overview PiffPaff.

And all on the same day when Bill Sweeney says the RFU will take 4-5 years to make back the £107 million loses that Bernard Laporte announces that the deal to sell the soul off the 6 Nations to CVC is almost done and France will gain £66.5 million. How much will the RFU gain and has this already been factored in ?

If not it would go some way to saving jobs.

What Piffpadff said.

So who will run all the training courses etc if there are no RFU staff on the ground. ?

As well as that are they expecting all this work to be picked up by already overloaded volunteers ?

Going off what Monkey Boy says, (where did you get the figures by the way) and the 2019 RFU report

Stadium, Commercial, Admin and Pro rugby = 59%

Rugby Development = 41%

This will change to

Imagine if Council was really stripped back.

Just saying....

The loss of travelling expenses, increase in ref fees, no international match tickets to sell, and delayed start to any rugby, is not going to be much helped by a grand or two from the RFU via a loan or grant.

Clubs at National level from Level 4 downwards are going to struggle to survive unless they become the local pub and get some footfall in. Fulfilling fixtures that necessitate a bus journey and at least a 1k trip are just not on.

It will take at least 18 months from now for any real income to be generated and the days of information gathering by the RFU are numbered and thus their staff have and will have to go.

 

Not pretty but this is the real world where there aren't wealthy benefactors and sponsors under pressure to survive themselves and not give money away to clubs for dubious sponsorship benefits

Blame those who signed the agreement with PRL which requires the RFU to keep shelling out funds even if they aren’t earning it. 

Not true, the first four year of the deal gave, but the next four years are based on an income split. If the RFU do well, the PRL get more, but if things go belly up the PRL clubs share the agony. 

No the PRL will still get their piece of flesh. Except it won't be quality beef, more chicken drumsticks. 

I think I am on record as saying that travel for all team should be the first thing that the RFU funds and only after that is covbered should they give any money based on which league tyou are playing in. I am not sure why redruth get £30k, Pirates get £600k and Bristol get £2m.

Would Pirates be any better than Redruth without central funds, indeed would Bristol?

If the RFU is meant to represent all clubs, that includes Douglas, Jersey and Sandown and Shanklin.

To be fair Hampshire RFU do negotiate a discount on the isle of Wight ferry.

So still 25% more than before the appointment of Ian Ritchie whose fiefdom achievements included doubling the number of RFU employees while reducing the number employed in community rugby 

Will the board of Directors be giving up half of their 100% pension increase authorised by Ritchie at the same time?