The Rugby Football Union "could axe 100 jobs this month in the most brutal cost-cutting exercise the governing body has undertaken," according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. Every department will "potentially be hit in the quest for multi-million-pound savings." Redundancies are "likely to reduce the staff head count from 570 to at least 500," depending on the results of a review, which is being conducted internally and overseen by CEO Steve Brown. It is understood that the budget for England's preparations for the World Cup in Japan next year, thought to be around £30M ($40.1M) per year including players' match fees and bonuses, will be "ring-fenced." Manager Eddie Jones' setup "is also unlikely to be affected." However, the consultation, which is a legal process, "will examine the professional rugby budget and resources as well as the community rugby budget." One source said, "It is going to be a tough process." Spending on professional rugby in England has soared by more than 50% since '15 to a record £63.7M last year, including £30M to the professional clubs. Investment going into the 2015 World Cup was £44.3M (TELEGRAPH, 6/11).
