Rugby-RFU chairman Ilube resigns amid review of huge payouts to executives

(Reuters) - Rugby Football Union's (RFU) board chairman Tom Ilube said on Friday he was stepping down, after it emerged that huge bonuses were paid to CEO Bill Sweeney and other executives despite the English governing body posting a record operating loss.

The RFU Council has set up an immediate review into the circumstances surrounding the bonuses, after it was shown that Sweeney was paid a total of 1.1 million pounds ($1.4 million) in the last accounting year.

The sum included a 358,000 pound bonus that was part of a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) for top executives. Under the plan, agreed after the executives took pay cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic, five others received a total of 1 million pounds.

RFU reported a loss of 37.9 million pounds over the same period, and made more than 40 staff redundant in September.

"I have decided to step down from my role as Chair of the RFU as recent events have become a distraction from the game, but will stay on to ensure a smooth transition to a new Chair as soon as one is in place," Ilube said in a statement shared by the RFU.

"I’m pleased that an independent review of the LTIP scheme has been commissioned and look forward to its findings once completed."

British media reported on Wednesday that Sweeney and Ilube were set to face a confidence vote after almost 200 member clubs and bodies demanded a special general meeting, to be held in February.

($1 = 0.7994 pounds)

(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Hugh Lawson)