Community Rugby
JUNE 2011 / issue 136 RFU THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOUCHLINE RFU AND RFUW MOVING FORWARD IN DIFFICULT TIMES The departure on June 10th of the RFU Chief Executive “We must now move forward, the critical things remain Officer, John Steele, will have been unsettling for the entire unchanged as Martin Johnson, his coaches and the England game. Board of Directors Chairman, Martyn Thomas, has players prepare to go to New Zealand to contest the Rugby World been asked to cover the role of Acting CEO until July. Cup. They are far too professional to be affected by recent events He says, “The loss of a CEO is always going to cause difficulty and, having talked it through, the World Cup campaign remains and unrest but regrettable though it was, the Board unanimously their focus and their challenge. felt that it was in the best interests of the Union for John to “After England return from New Zealand, we will have four years leave. While he had done many positive things in terms of the before hosting the only Rugby World Cup in this territory that most new structure, the Board ultimately felt that John’s position had of us will see in our lifetimes. It is a tremendous opportunity, for become untenable and that his departure was the best decision for the community game, for the professional clubs, for our volunteers the long term benefit of the Union. and everyone involved in rugby. “I accept that people will have been shocked by the news but “With new directors joining the Union, the Shaping Up structure the direction of travel John Steele set out is not something there stands.
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