Jeff Blackett’s findings talk about mistrust within RFU - Rugby news
The chief disciplinary officer of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Jeff Blackett’s 52- page report on John Steele’s removal from the Chief Executive office has exposed mistrust within the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
A five-member committee chaired by Blackett had submitted a detailed report talking about the John Steele’s undue dismissal by the RFU management on June 9, due to a build-up of mistrust within the management of RFU. This was then closely followed by Martyn
Thomas’ stepping down from his Chairmanship of RFU. Thomas will continue to be part of RFU as the acting chief executive until a new permanent appointment is not made.
Despite the details which were revealed in Blackett’s report, Thomas will retain his office as the RFU chairman for Rugby World Cup 2015 and will continue as a member of RFU international board.
Since the review of Blackett’s committee had claimed that Thomas and Steele’s relationship was jeopardized while RFU was still sorting out to appoint the performance director on currently vacant position. It was further revealed that Thomas had ousted Steele
from the chief executive’s office because he wanted Sir Clive Woodward, the former world cup wining manager, to be taken on board, where Steele had as yet not completed a single year with RFU as its chief executive.
After the infamous report of Blackett, eight other RFU non-executives were made to step down from their offices in RFU. The report which was based on the 66 interviews along with 189 documented verifications targeting Thomas for his mishandling in Steele’s
case, was soon to go public.
As that report cost Thomas heavily, his lawyer has already warned Blackett from publishing the report because that will be realised as an act of public humiliation. However, Thomas will proceed with legal actions against Blackett, in case he still publishes
the report.
Blackett has put the publication the report on halt, but the newspapers are still circulating the findings of review, explaining the situation within the top RFU as, "John Steele did not trust the board. Council members did not trust the board; staff did
not trust the management of the union and feared for their jobs"
The situation within the RFU internal management is heating up. Woodward, who will be joining RFU as its performance director in May 2012, has warned RFU to settle down their internal issues within the board as that will distract the England squad which
is marching into Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 this September.
Further, it was felt that the entire review episode has “damaged” RFU’s reputation as it is felt that “confidentiality will not be strictly observed”. Review criticised how swiftly Steele was made to leave his post after a four-hour-long board meeting of
the RFU, without giving the whole notion some time to sink in. This seemed more like a forced action by RFU, and has led to widespread distrust within RFU board.
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