Dr Brett Robinson Elected As New World Rugby Chair & Exec Board Elected 2024-2028

Dr. Brett Robinson (Australia) has been elected as the new Chair of World Rugby after voting at the 2024 Interim Meeting of Council in Dublin, Ireland on 14 November 2024.

Robinson succeeds Sir Bill Beaumont and will serve a four-year term, with the possibility to stand for re-election for a second four-year term in 2028.

For the first time, two player representatives were elected to join the EXCO, former Irish international Rob Kearney and former NZ international Melodie Robinson were nominated by International Rugby Players (IRP) on the Executive Board.

New Zealand’s Melodie Robinson played 15s and Sevens for her country, winning two Rugby World Cups, and she has had a successful career in broadcasting. Robinson is a “strong advocate for the women’s game” and is currently the Head of Sports, Events and Partnerships at TVNZ and sits on the board of World Rugby’s EventsCo, said the IRP.

Melodie Robinson commented, “This is a big day for me personally but it’s a huge milestone for the game. For a long time, our player associations have lobbied to have their voices heard at the top table and so myself and Rob will work hard to make sure that we make the most of this opportunity. I also intend to ensure that the women’s game is prioritised and ensure quality player representation at the highest level.”

Rob Kearney was capped 95 times for Ireland and won two Grand Slams, four 6 Nations Championships as well as four European Cup titles with Leinster. He toured twice with the British and Irish Lions and now holds several directorships. He also served as chairman of rugby players in Ireland.

Kearney said, “I’m acutely aware of the responsibilities associated with this role and I’m ready to work hard to make sure the collective voice of players is heard and that players are part of the global decision-making process in our sport. The team at International Rugby Players has worked incredibly hard to get us to this point and now we must take player representation to the next level.”

World Rugby Executive Board 2024-2028

The six elected representatives on the World Rugby EXCO join the World Rugby Chair as well as Chief Executive Alan Gilpin, as well as the two player reps.

Elected officials will serve a maximum four-year term, dependent on previously appointed individuals not reaching the eight-year aggregate term limit within this period (this does not apply to the elected Chair, who may serve up to two terms).

Qais Al-Dhalai (Asia Rugby) failed in his bid to secure a seat, while former internationals John Eales (Australia) & Agustín Pichot (Argentina) did not secure a seat either on the World Rugby Executive Board.

World Rugby Full Member Status

Egypt, Guatemala and Lesotho were also elevated to World Rugby full member status which increased the national unions in World Rugby membership to 133 across six regions.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “It is fantastic to see Egypt, Guatemala and Lesotho achieve World Rugby full member status and I congratulate all three countries on their impressive progress and development in recent years. Boosted by an outstanding, record-breaking Olympic rugby sevens competition in Paris, our global game for all continues to grow and diversify, powered in particular by increases in women’s rugby participation and greater fan engagement across the globe.

With 133 member countries across all six regions, World Rugby is committed to continuing to deliver on its core mission to grow and evolve globally, becoming more accessible and entertaining, and ensuring the sport’s unique DNA, and the physical and social benefits involved in playing rugby are available to girls and boys, women and men wherever they are in the world.”

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