RFU boss responds to backlash after controversial name change of Twickenham

The agreement, reportedly worth over £10 million annually for at least the next ten years, will bring the RFU more than £100 million over the next decade.

This deal means Allianz now holds the naming rights to eight stadiums worldwide, including Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena in Germany.

Explaining the decision, RFU boss Bill Sweeney said: ‘We fully understand why there may be some concerns for the traditionalists.

‘They’ll question why we are granting naming rights to a stadium as iconic as Twickenham.

‘It’s not an unusual thing to do. There’s lots of examples of this happening elsewhere. It’s something that’s been on our radar for quite some time.

‘But we don’t take the subject of issuing naming rights for an iconic stadium like Twickenham lightly, so it was important for us to make sure it was the right partner.

‘And with Allianz, we’ve got someone who satisfy a lot of criteria. They’re very passionate about rugby. Their senior management are avid followers of the game.

‘They’ve got a real commitment not just to their branding on the stadium itself but to use their investment to inject that into the community and grassroots game. It's not simply the naming rights of the stadium. There’s a number of components which make them an ideal partner.

‘Clearly it generates a lot of investment for us. The funds that are being generated by granting those naming rights to Allianz are going to be spent in areas we want to invest in as strategic priorities. For those people who love the game despite maybe some initial concerns, please understand we’re doing this for all the right reasons.’

Sweeney added: ‘Commercial partners are critical to allow us to invest back into the game. It’s been well documented times are tough coming out of Covid. 

'It hasn’t been an easy journey with increasing costs, rising inflation and the impact that’s had on us in terms of our financial challenges. It’s about how they (Allianz) can help us with the redevelopment of the stadium. 

'It’s been well documented that starting in 2027, we’re going to be investing a lot of money in the upgrading of the Twickenham facilities. They’re a good strategic partner to help us do that.’

In the event foul play is determined to be deliberate and with a high level of danger it will result in a full red card for the offending player who will not return to the field nor be able to be replaced.

All other Red Cards that do not meet the above threshold will be 20 min Red Cards in which the offending player will be removed from the match but will be entitled to be replaced by another player after 20 minutes. The offending team will then be able to replace the red carded player with one of their available replacements.

Rationale: the individual, not the game, punished for red card offences.

a) Conversion & Penalty: A player will have 60 seconds to kick at goal [conversion] from when a try is scored; or 60 seconds to kick at goal [penalty] from time referee is informed of kick at goal option. If a player exceeds this time limit the conversion kick shall not count/be kicked – play restarts at the centre mark; for a Penalty a scrum is awarded to the non-kicking team at the place of the penalty.

b) Scrum: A scrum must be set 30 seconds from when the mark for scrum is made by the referee. A Free Kick shall be awarded at place of scrum against the team causing the delay.

c) Lineout: A lineout must be formed 30 seconds from the AR signalling the place of the lineout. A free kick shall be awarded on 15-metre line against team causing the delay.

Rationale: Speed up ball returning to play after a score, kick for touch or scrum.

Ruck: A player who was part of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it, and who is attempting to play the ball away.  ‘Near’ is defined in Law as being “within one metre”. Sanction: Penalty

Maul: A player who is part of the maul may not play an opponent near it, and who is attempting to play the ball away.  Sanction: Penalty

Scrum: Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession must take up a position with both feet no further than the centre line of the tunnel; or permanently retires to a point on the offside line either at that team’s hindmost foot, or permanently retires at least five metres behind the hindmost foot. Sanction: Penalty.

Rationale – all three measures allow the scrum half, or player in that role, to play the ball away cleanly from the phase of play without disruption.

Law dictates that the ball must be thrown straight into the lineout.

However, if the defending team are not lifted to compete for the ball, then play shall continue in the instance a throw may appear not straight.

If the defending team lift a teammate to compete for the ball and a throw is not deemed not straight by referee then they shall be offered the option of a lineout or scrum. If the lineout is chosen and the ball is again not thrown straight, a scrum is awarded to the team that originally threw in the ball.

Rationale: Doesn’t force a stop in play where no material offence has taken place.