Thursday's Special General Meeting was a highly significant event for English rugby - an opportunity for the game at all levels to hold the powers-that-be to account.

Certainly, that is how the RFU will feel. “I am pleased to see such a decisive outcome,” said interim chairman Bill Beaumont, he and the board’s backing of Sweeney seemingly vindicated. “I trust that those who supported this motion will honour and accept the result on this tonight and let’s work forward to make changes.

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has survived a vote of no confidence in his leadership to signal a ceasefire in the civil war that had broken out in the game.