Ex-England skipper Phil de Glanville pens six-point RFU reflection

Former England skipper Phil de Glanville has published a sign-off note after recently finishing up his seven years as an RFU council member, his six-year service on the RFU board and two years as chairperson of the professional game board.  

The 55-year-old, who was capped on 38 occasions between 1992 and 1999, was awarded a distinguished member badge following the end of his time at the RFU. He has now taken to LinkedIn to provide a summary of his time involved, highlighting six achievements on his watch.  

He wrote: “As I come to the end of seven years as Rugby Football Union council member for students, and six years on the RFU board, as well as chairing the professional game board during the last two years, there is lots to reflect on:

• Helping manage the sport through covid, which has and continues to make a massive impact on the finances of the sport.
• Developing an investment plan for the CVC buy-in to the Six Nations, in revenue generating projects for the future.
• Developing increasingly sophisticated technology and protocols to reduce and manage head acceleration events.
• Supporting the RFU executive through the negotiations of the new professional game partnership for the next eight years and in particular to try and stabilise the Premiership financially after three clubs went into administration.
• Supporting the community game of the future strategy, a 10-year plan for the community game.
• Continuing to increase the diversity of every aspect of rugby union… Just to name a few.

“It gives me a lot more time for the day job again, although refereeing locally will keep me busy too. Delighted that my peers voted 100 per cent (I am told) to award me one of these as a distinguished member of the RFU. Good luck to Katy Storie who takes over as council member, and watch this space for my replacement on the board.”