Nigel Melville faces accusations that he "conned" Doug Schoninger into investing in PRO Rugby.GETTY IMAGES
The next Rugby Football Union interim CEO, Nigel Melville, is being sued in the U.S. by a businessman who claims he was "conned" into investing $6M to launch the first professional rugby competition in North America, according to Alex Lowe of the LONDON TIMES. Melville, a former CEO of USA Rugby, will take charge of the RFU from next month after Steve Brown announced on Friday that he was resigning. The lawsuit, filed in Colorado, "relates to the collapse of the five-team PRO Rugby after only one season" in '16. Melville is one of nine respondents including USA Rugby and World Rugby. Meville is accused of "making false promises" that induced Doug Schoninger into investing in the league and "hiding from his his planned departure" to join the RFU as director of professional rugby. Schoninger said, "He basically, for lack of a better word, conned me and told me what I needed to hear as my friend, as my partner and as my fiduciary. He brought me in and he delivered everything he told me he was going to deliver and the minute I trusted him, he screwed me." Melville declined to comment but it is understood that he will "vigorously contest the lawsuit." An RFU spokesperson said, "The RFU is aware of the legal challenge which involves many people connected to USA Rugby and not just Nigel Melville. The RFU is not party to the action and we will not be commenting any further" (LONDON TIMES, 11/19).
