Fallout from Eddie Jones exit contributes to RFU costs rising by £4.7m

RFU announces latest financial figures in annual report.

RISING COSTS: Eddie Jones severance package is believed to be the single biggest contributor to the RFU’s £900,000 of staff restructuring costs.

The Rugby Football Union’s decision to sack Eddie Jones and replace him with Steve Borthwick contributed to increased England costs of nearly £5m, according to the organisation’s annual report for the year ending June 2023.

Jones was sacked in December 2022 after a disappointing autumn campaign, with Borthwick taking over later that month. The RFU chose not to put Jones on gardening leave or insert a noncompete clause in his contract but, according to the annual report, he was awarded “a contractually pre-agreed termination payment”.