Dear Club Members,
I wanted to update you on the latest developments at the RFU.
As a member club of the RFU, Chesham has a vote on issues addressed at the RFU AGM.
This year’s AGM was held at St. George's Park on Saturday the 28th of June, and included 11 votes on resolutions proposed by Chichester RFU and seconded by Nottingham. These resolutions are very important for the future governance of rugby in England. As a result I felt it was my duty to be present and listen in person to all the arguments and proposals being put forward. I found the arguments in these resolutions compelling. They aimed to grant the council more power and oversight of the main board and ensure that the grassroots of the game had a clear voice.
The RFU board presented a counterargument, referencing their ongoing governance review, the results of which are yet to be released. They also voiced concerns about the funding impacts of such decisions and their impact on the “Code of Sport Governance” that sets out the regulations with which central funding is distributed from Sport England.
After listening to all sides, - and changing my mind on more than one occasion - I concluded that both had valid points when considered within their own context. However, given the incomplete status of the governance review, I felt it was not the appropriate time to vote in favour of these resolutions.
I write this to ensure there is transparency around the process with which I made the decision and that if anyone wishes to discuss it further with me they can.
If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
Karl Cross
Chair
Chesham Rugby Club
