Chief Executive of the RFU Ian Ritchie has branded England’s fourth consecutive second place finish in the Six Nations “unacceptable”, claiming that they should be winning more and throwing down the gauntlet to Stuart Lancaster and his side ahead of the World Cup later this year.
“Four years as runners-up is not acceptable and we are not happy with how that came about,” Ritchie said yesterday at a press conference. “We should be, as a country, winning more in terms of Grand Slams, Six Nations championships, other things.
“We remain confident, optimistic, of belief that we can do well in the Rugby World Cup. What happened on Saturday reinforced elements of that and (we) remain absolutely confident, happy and committed with the team that we’ve got on the coaching staff.”
The RFU’s target was to break into the top two of the IRB rankings come the end of the Six Nations; England currently lie in fourth, behind New Zealand, South Africa and the side that have just completed back to back Six Nations titles, Ireland.
“Targets are always a helpful thing, but they’re not the be-all and end-all,” Ritchie added. “You’ve got to look around at the totality of what’s going on, where we are and what we believe.
“Have we missed some targets? Well, yes. We wanted to win the Six Nations. We wanted to be ranked two in the world.
“I still think the underlying situation is one that is important. I’m not trying to be unrealistic about that, through rose-coloured spectacles. I’m just trying to be balanced.”
Ritchie claimed that he did not regret offering Lancaster and his coaching staff a contract through to 2020 earlier this year, a decision that raised eyebrows given the World Cup is still to be played. He admitted, however, that any talk of still being in development as a side was wide of the mark, and that England had to deliver on the biggest stage later this year.
“I don’t think we’re in a development phase. We should be going into every game, doing our utmost to win and to win well. We’ve got the resources, the talent, the ability. Saturday was a fantastic example of that. We’ve got to make sure we come out for the World Cup and deliver.”
What do you make of Ritchie’s comments? Do you think they are valid, or do you think he is wrong to air these kinds of views in public?
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
16 replies on “RFU CEO brands another Six Nations failure “unacceptable””
We should recognise that Ian Richie is first and foremost a businessman and as such his comments are entirely understandable. If you are running the biggest organisation with the most resources and biggest investment, in business terms, you are entitled to demand success. It’s nothing to do with the more emotive and less hard-headed attitudes to which ‘rugby-men’ subscribe,.as far as he is concerned his ‘business’ has a God given right to be the best
Agree that perspective is important – but for him to fire off in public about a business issue that will affect the pure sport opinions of fans and players (and coaches) in a quite possibly negative fashion is frankly crass. The team already know what they lost particularly against Scotland, so why twist the dagger more? Save that sort of ire for the Boardroom, not the media room.
If a CEO of a real business mouthed off about their company like that then the share price would take an instant nose dive.
Gerald Ratner’s ‘crap products’ comment destroyed his business. Take note Mr Richie
I disagree Leon.The share price would already be depressed because the shareholders are aware targets are not being met.They would be glad the ceo recognised the failure and expect him to take appropriate action if underperformance continues.Lancaster should recognise seeing out his over generous contract depends on acceptable performance in the rwc-minimum semi final
Like most English pundits ,the CEO genuinely thinks that England have a great team. The fact is that they are ordinary and that is bottom line!
I agree with you VJ. Businessman he may be but he still has a responsibility to protect those that work from him
I meant for him of course.
In a tournament that was decided on points difference and England had all 3 blue teams at home (whereas the winners had two of them away), I think coming second was unacceptable too.
Having read this article for the second time, and more thoroughly, I am beginning to think this whole discussion is blowing massivly out of proportion. I am at least as guilty as anyone.
Unfortunately I read this first on BBC, and their reporting of the actually comments was sparce and potentially misleading. Reading this again it sounds like Ritchie is as critical, if not more more so, of himself/RFU as of Lancaster and players.
I think it’s somewhat unfeasable to think England would be ranked 2 in the world after this 6nations, top 5 yes as they are but to expect them to rank #2 is unlikely. Even if they manage to win the world cup (which i dont think they’ll get to semi’s) I wouldnt consider them the number 2 team.
NZ will be #1 for a long time, not just due to current but a history of performance.
SA will be #2 because they are the other big SH team.
Australia was a beatable team and they have slipped down the rankings because of that; they aren’t the powerhouse they once were, but if England (or Wales or Ireland) want to get the number #2 they need to be winning consistently, going into the AI games and coming out unbeaten, consistently making the WC semi’s and multiple grand slams.
I think England should be proud to be top 5 and even as a businessman investing he should recognize that as an achievement.
If England won the world cup then they would definitely make it to #2 in the rankings and would even have a shot at getting to #1 as ranking points count double during a world cup.
My point was they don’t deserve to be ranked number 2, one good tournament doesn’t make it in my eyes, NZ are number 1 because they have consistently been the best, SA come 2nd for being dominant over the NH teams and doing well in tournaments – England are hit or miss with SH teams and are consistently number 2 in the 6nations, to be ranked #1 or 2 in the world I expect consist 6nations titles and SF atleast in world cup – and good AI tours.
Ireland are closest to that and rank 3rd.
I don’t think any team would be able to reach #2 without South Africa having a poor run of games, and that team beating them or NZ anyway.
tis the same issue every year – we need NH teams to have great SH team for a few years, no the occasional SA or NZ win but regular – shift the balance of power in rugby. It’s a sport of two halfs – north & south.
South is NZ – SA – AUS
North is IRE – ENG – WAL
When I work out the rankings in my eyes I seperate it as above, I hope to see Wales rank top NH but dont expect world for a long time, becoming top in NH is doable within a year or two of good form, breaking SH as well is more a decade journey in my eyes.
I completely agree England should have atleast 1 6n title in the last 4years but to not rank 2 in the world- I think as it stands Ireland/England/Wales are almost on par – each with there own strengths/weaknesses – but so far Ireland are taking the title’s so they get the nod. Wales + England need to step it up.
The goal was set a couple of years ago, to go into the RWC as one of the top 2 teams. Not a short term objective for the last 6N.