Steve Brown resigns: RFU chief executive announces shock decision to step down at the end of 2018

Chief executive has announced he will leave his role after just 14 months in charge of the union amid growing financial turmoil

Steve Brown has announced his resignation as RFU chief executive (Getty)

Rugby Football Union chief executive Steve Brown has resigned after little more than a year in the position, it has been announced.

A reason has not been given for his sudden decision but he will remain in the role until the end of 2018, having replaced Ian Ritchie last September, with his announcement coming a day before England face Japan at Twickenham and 10 months before the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Brown will walk away from one of the most lucrative jobs in English sport, and while the RFU have not disclosed his salary, it has claimed in the past that it is less than the £710,000-a-year paid to his predecessor Ritchie.

The RFU’s current director of professional rugby, Nigel Melville, will act as interim chief executive upon Brown’s departure until a replacement is found in the new year, but his sudden exit comes amid growing and alarming financial turmoil at the governing body.

“This has been a very difficult decision for me to make, and I informed the RFU Board earlier this week that the time is right for me to step down and take some time out,” Brown said in a statement. “I’ve loved my time in rugby, and am deeply proud to have made a contribution to a sport I love.

"It has been a fascinating seven and a half years, and a great honour to lead the RFU over the last 14 months. I am proud of the people who make the union – including our hard working and committed staff and the brilliant volunteers who make the game. I’m sad to leave, but the Union is in good shape, with an excellent leadership team in place.

"I have always been a rugby fan, and always will be, and I wish all our England teams, coaches, and everyone involved with the game at all levels the very best for the future, which looks bright for the English game.”

Brown has been part of the RFU since joining as chief financial officer in June 2011, and was a key part of the team that brought the Rugby World Cup to England in 2015 and delivered a hugely successful tournament in terms of organisation and fan interest, if not results.

“This is a sad day for the union,” noted RFU chairman Andy Cosslett. “Steve has made a huge contribution to the RFU during his time here. He has been a pivotal figure during a long period of sustained growth for the union and, as managing director of the organising committee, played a key role in delivering Rugby World Cup 2015.

"Described by World Rugby as ‘the best World Cup ever’ the success of the tournament returned a wonderful dividend for the RFU and left a lasting legacy. Steve’s tireless work ethic and selfless attitude has won him the respect of all who know him and the game will be extremely sad to see him go. Steve is a good man and a good friend to many of us. He leaves with our very best wishes and our sincere thanks.”

Brown replaced Ian Ritchie in September 2017 (Getty)

His surprise announcement, which comes firmly in the middle of England’s autumn international campaign, comes at a time when the RFU’s financial position is coming under growing scrutiny. The union made 62 redundancies earlier this year, trimming the number of staff employed to around 500 jobs, and one of Brown’s predecessors Francis Baron has been commissioned to carry out an investigation into their financial affairs by a number of past RFU presidents due to a number of worrying signs, which includes the £7.7m loss made in the past financial year.

The RFU has not welcomed this move by its past presidents, but there is no overlooking the recent financial results that showed that the East Stand redevelopment at Twickenham ran £30m over budget – largely due to tighter and more expensive safety measures being introduced in light of the Grenfell Tower disaster – and the indefinite postponement of its implementation plan of artificial grass pitches at grassroots level and above.

The Professional Game Agreement with Premiership Rugby Limited also came at a sizeable cost, with the £220m deal seeing England players paid around £24,000 per appearance and clubs being recompensed for the loss of team members for anything up to 19 weeks a season.

Brown also took the decision last year to extend Eddie Jones’ contract by an additional two years as part of a transitional plan to find his successor. However, since the contract was awarded, Jones saw his side lose five Tests in a row and their 2018 record makes glum reading of four wins and six losses, plus an embarrassing defeat by the Barbarians in the summer.