Page 37 - RFU Annual Report 2017

35
Director’s Report

Corporate Governance

RFU structure The Board has a number of
committees responsible for different
The RFU is unique among national areas of its operation, most notably
governing bodies as having a the Community Game Board, the
co-operative structure. Rather than Professional Game Board and the
being a company, it is a society Governance Standing Committee.
registered under the Co-operative The Board is also served by an Audit
and Community Benefit Societies Committee and a Remuneration
Act, meaning that it is a members’ Committee.
organisation. The one member,
one vote principle is enshrined in The RFU Council has a dual role of
the RFU’s Rules, its constitutional driving policy relating to the game
document. The membership is and monitoring and oversight of the
predominantly rugby clubs, both Board, which it fulfils on behalf of the
professional and amateur. RFU’s members.

The members The Council is made up of
representatives elected by member
entrust the day to clubs (largely on a geographic
day operation of the basis through Constituent Bodies),
those appointed by the national
RFU to the Board representative bodies (such as
Premier Rugby or the Rugby Players’
of Directors, and Association), and some ex officio and
regular oversight to co-opted members.
the Council While executive authority sits
primarily with the Board, the Council
The Board has the ultimate also has a number of specific
responsibility for the day to day reserved powers which include:
running of the RFU, and has the deciding regulations on the playing
authority to exercise all executive and governance of the game and
functions other than clearly specified criteria for membership of the RFU;
powers which are reserved to Council appointing and removing a number
or the members. of Board directors and members of
committees and sub-committees;
The Board is designed to be a setting the date, time and agenda of
combination of representatives of the General Meetings; the ability to call
game, together with executive staff a Special General Meeting; co-option
and Independent Non-Executive onto Council and deciding the policy
Directors. Directors are appointed for international tickets distribution.
through a rigorous skills-based
selection process to ensure the right
combination of skills, experience and
knowledge. With the exception of
executive staff, all Board members
are subject to limits on the time they
can serve on the Board as set out in
the RFU’s Rules.

Annual Report 2017