Bill Beaumont could take over as RFU chair with Ilube on brink over pay row

Grassroots rebellion set to force vote of no confidence

NEW CHAIR? Bill Beaumont could be parachuted into the Rugby Football Union as interim chair in the event Tom Ilube falls on his sword amid the botched handling of the executive pay scandal engulfing the game.  Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Bill Beaumont could be parachuted into the Rugby Football Union as interim chair in the event Tom Ilube falls on his sword amid the botched handling of the executive pay scandal engulfing the game.

The current RFU chair Ilube and Bill Sweeney, the chief executive, were due to be called for talks with the union’s president, Rob Udwin, on Thursday following Wednesday’s emergency council meeting to “discuss a way forward”.