World Rugby announces interim committees

A number of leading rugby players and coaches have been appointed to 12 World Rugby interim committees to increase player representation in decision-making.

World Rugby Committees

World Rugby announced this week that rugby players and female leaders will have a greater global representation on the interim World Rugby committees.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont had committed to “building on transformational governance reform implemented in 2015 to further representation, efficiency and effectiveness, every committee features broader nation, female and independent representation with 30 per cent of all committee members women and three committees chaired by female Council members.”

The move also follows productive agreements between the international federation and International Rugby Players (IRP). World Rugby added that “the core objective of contributing to the decision-making process, the player representatives will combine extensive rugby experience with relevant expertise, including broadcast, digital media, welfare, medical, commercial and legal business backgrounds.”

Some of the key points are:

• Interim committees broaden player, coach, nation, independent and female representation.
• Partnership with International Rugby Players will ensure that player matters are at the heart of every committee agenda.
• All female Council members represented on committees with three committees chaired by women.
• Interim committees to initially serve for one year pending the completion of an independent governance review.

The statement from rugby’s governing body also said that:

“With exponential growth across emerging rugby nations, women’s rugby and rugby sevens, the restructure will enable World Rugby to expand its focus on specific strategies to support the sport from the grassroots up”.

World Rugby Tackling COVID-19

Sir Bill Beaumont World Rugby Chairman

Sir Bill Beaumont, said: “These interim committees will play an important role during this challenging and pivotal period for our sport. Further increasing the number of players, coaches, independent and skills-based committee members ensures a broad range of experience and expertise and reflects the diversity and values of our sport.

As we look ahead to Rugby World Cup 2021 and Rugby World Cup 2023, as well as rugby’s 200th birthday in 2023, the new committees will have a significant role to play in growing and developing the game and ensuring we realise our ambitions.”

Some of the tasks of the committees’ post-COVID-19 tasks for rugby include:

• Tackling the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Further player welfare advances.
• Harmonise international competitions and calendars.
• Make rugby more simple, enjoyable and accessible.

World Rugby Committees 2020

The full list of committee members can be seen below and on the World Rugby website. Some Asian representation is present in the form of Ada Milby (Regional Committee & Community Rugby Committee), and Terence Khoo from Singapore Rugby is part of the Regional Committee.

Read our interview with Ada Milby and gender equality.