RFU makes radical bid to ditch 'old farts' council in Sweeney shake-up

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• Will significantly strengthen chief executive's position
• Proposal expected to go down badly among rebels

The Rugby Football Union plans to do away with its council - the decision-making body infamously dubbed "57 old farts" by Will Carling - in a radical governance shake-up following Bill Sweeney's survival as chief executive last month.

In a move that would significantly strengthen Sweeney's position and represent the biggest change to the structure of the organisation in recent history, a proposal has been sent for public consultation featuring two options to overhaul the RFU's governance - both of which would do away with the council, which currently has 63 members.