Rugby Football Union Explains Stuart Lancaster's Agency Role

The Rugby Football Union on Sunday produced a "hasty explanation to an embarrassing situation" that suggested that England head coach Stuart Lancaster was "attempting to cash in on his position in advance of the World Cup," according to Owen Slot of the LONDON TIMES. Lancaster is represented by M&C Saatchi Merlin, which "describes itself as a 'creative talent management agency,'" and "produced a brochure appearing to sell the services of Lancaster as a speaker available to share his wisdom at corporate seminars." It read, "With Stuart's academic background he is quite unique. As a great leader he has shifted people's perceptions of reality -- inspiring people to do the impossible." The RFU responded by saying that the agency acted without its permission and that neither Lancastor nor the RFU had "given sign-off to the publication of the brochure" (LONDON TIMES, 4/6).