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Eddie Jones' media advisor apologises for dig at 'slippery' RFU CEO

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has reportedly received an apology from Eddie Jones’ media advisor after a serious allegation attacking the England rugby chief was written in the comments section at the bottom of an online Times UK article that was published earlier this week.

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Ever since Jones took on the England job for the 2016 Six Nations, he has always taken soundings from the Canberra-based David Pembroke, who has worked as his independent media advisor during the coach’s time in charge in London.

Pressure has been heaped on the RFU in the wake of a deflating Autumn Nations Series campaign in which England won just one of four matches and their record of just five wins in twelve games during 2022 was the worst set of calendar year results since 2008.

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Amid speculation that Jones’ position could now be under threat even though he is contracted through to the end of the 2023 World Cup in France, the Times published an article that revealed Richard Tingay had resigned as the England team doctor on Sunday and that another senior staff member was considering his future.

This report promoted a message from Pembroke that was published in the comments section under the article in which he branded Sweeney, the RFU CEO, as slippery and claimed he was briefing against England head coach Jones. He also called on RFU chairman Tom Ilube to investigate Sweeney.

“The chairman of the RFU must ask the CEO of the RFU did he or persons on his behalf leak the information published in the Times about the hockey coach and the doctor? Simple. If answer is yes, ‘Slippery’ Bill is a goner,” wrote Pembroke in the since-deleted comment.

Pembroke’s message suggested there must now be some tension in the working relationship between Jones and Sweeney with the RFU conducting a review into the national team’s latest set of deflating results. It has been speculated that the coach will come under greater scrutiny than in the previous reviews that followed underwhelming campaigns.

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The Times went on to report that Pembroke was told that the RFU CEO hadn’t briefed against Jones and the media advisor has since apologised for the allegation.

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Tom 2 hours ago
Has 'narrow-mindedness' cost Ribbans and others their Lions chance?

I didn't say anything regarding whether I feel the eligibility rule is right or wrong, you've jumped to conclusions there…


The fact is the eligibility rule does exist and any English qualified player is aware when they sign a foreign contract that they're making themselves ineligible and less likely to be picked for the Lions. If Jack Willis and Dave Ribbans priority was playing for England and the Lions they wouldn't be playing in France. Whether they should be allowed to play for England or not isn't my point. Under the current rules they have chosen to make themselves ineligible so they can't have their cake and eat it while other players have taken lesser salaries to commit themselves to their dream of playing for England and the Lions. They have made their choices.


Besides, while it works for South Africa doesn't prove it will work for any other country. South Africa have an extraordinary talent pool of incredible rugby athletes which no other country can compete with. They sadly don't have the resources to keep hold of them so they've been forced into this system. If they had the wealth to keep all their players at home and were still playing in Super Rugby they might be even better… they could be worse. We can't know for sure but cherry picking the best country in the world with a sample size of 1 and extrapolating it to other nations with very different circumstances doesn't hold water. Again, not saying the eligibility rule is correct just that you can't assume scrapping it would benefit us simply because South Africa are world champions.

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I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
How Leinster bullied the Bulls at Croke Park

Expert coaches exist across the land and the IRFU already funds plenty. Ulster own their academy and who owns Ulster?


If you go to school in the North and rugby/tag rugby isn’t even on the PE curriculum until 12/13 as opposed to 7 or 8 in Leinster, how is that the IRFU’s fault? Even then, it’s only certain schools in the North that will offer it. On what basis would they go up to the North (strictly speaking, another country in the eyes of some) and dictate their schools programme?


The ABs used to be light years ahead of the pack because their eventual test superstars had been playing structured, competitive rugby from an average age of 5/6! On top of kicking it around the yard from the age they could walk with their rugby mad parents and older siblings.


Have you somehow gotten the impression that the Leinster system is not working for Irish rugby? What is that based on? The SARU should just stop competing because despite their back to back RWC’s, all 4 of their URC teams aren’t contesting semi-finals every year?


A couple of mining towns basically provided a Welsh team in the 70’s that were unplayable. Queensland in the old Super 10 provided the spine of an Oz team that were the first to win multiple world cups and in the same decade. The ABs population density is well documented with 35% of the population living around one city.


Is England’s match day 23 equally represented by mid-counties players, tough as nails northerners, a couple from Cornwall, a pack of manc’s and a lone Geordie? Ever?

It’s cute they won’t relegate the Falcons but has a Geordie test player ever hit 50 caps?


It’s ok not to understand geography. It’s also ok not to understand sport. Not understanding the geography of sport is something different entirely.

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