World Rugby Leadership Nominations Confirmed

World Rugby has confirmed the nominations for the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman as well as the Executive Committee nominations which will be determined at the annual meeting of Council on 12 May, 2020.

In a press release from World Rugby they said “In accordance with the World Rugby Bye-Laws, member unions were invited to submit nominations for the position of World Rugby Chairman and/or Vice-Chairman by the closing date of 12 April, 2020. All nominations had to be proposed and seconded by a member union and/or Regional Association.”

There were no nominations from Asia for the roles of Chairman, Vice-Chairman or for the Executive Committee. All the nominations were from men.

Chairman nominations – World Rugby 2020-2024

Current WR Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont is standing for a second term and has been nominated and proposed by the Fédération Française de Rugby and seconded by the Fiji Rugby Union.

As we reported during the week, Beaumont announced he is running with controversial FFR President Bernard Laporte as his candidate for Vice Chairman.

Current World Rugby Vice-Chairman Agustín Pichot (Union Argentina de Rugby) was nominated and proposed by Unión Argentina de Rugby and seconded by Rugby Australia and Sudamérica Rugby.

World Rugby Vice-Chairman nomination

Fédération Française de Rugby President Bernard Laporte has been nominated and proposed by the Rugby Football Union and seconded by Federația Română de Rugby.

Executive Committee nominations – World Rugby

In total, 8 nominations were submitted for the seven available positions on the World Rugby Executive Committee.

• Mark Alexander (South African Rugby Union): nominated and proposed by Rugby Africa and the South African Rugby Union and seconded by New Zealand Rugby and the South African Rugby Union.
• Khaled Babbou (Rugby Africa): nominated and proposed by Rugby Africa and seconded by the South African Rugby Union and the Fédération Française de Rugby.
• Bart Campbell (New Zealand Rugby): nominated and proposed by New Zealand Rugby and seconded by the South African Rugby Union.
• Gareth Davies (Welsh Rugby Union): nominated and proposed by the Scottish Rugby Union and seconded by the Welsh Rugby Union.
• John Jeffrey (Scottish Rugby Union): nominated and proposed by the Welsh Rugby Union and seconded by the Irish Rugby Football Union.
• Ratu Vilikesa Bulewa Francis Kean (Fiji Rugby Union): nominated and proposed by the Fiji Rugby Union and seconded by the Fédération Française de Rugby.
• Bob Latham (USA Rugby): nominated and proposed by USA Rugby and seconded by Rugby Americas North.
• Brett Robinson (Rugby Australia): proposed and nominated by Rugby Australia and seconded by the Unión Argentina de Rugby.

Voting process

World Rugby said that where contested, “Chairman and Vice-Chairman candidates must achieve a simple majority of the votes held by the members of Council present, in line with the electoral process set out under the bye-law. The vote numbers will be published.”

To be elected, Executive Committee nominees need to be one of the seven candidates who win the highest number of votes.

World Rugby has confirmed that the schedule of May Committee meetings will be held remotely due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All positions are elected for a period of four years running from May 2020 – 2024

2020 World Rugby calendar disrupted by COVID-19

World Rugby is still exploring plans to return-to-rugby, including the delivery of a viable 2020 international competition calendar, subject to the relevant government and health authority advice. COVID-19 has caused multiple rugby tournaments and tours to be rescheduled or cancelled in 2020.

• Some of the possible solutions could include:
• Short-term reshaping of the international rugby calendar
• Optimising competition opportunities for unions and domestic leagues.
• Planning factors in a rugby competition environment where cross-hemisphere travel might not be possible and, in the worst-case scenario, where no international rugby is possible this year.

COVID-19 Relief Fund for Rugby

World Rugby has announced details of a dedicated COVID-19 relief strategy aimed at supporting the global rugby game and mitigating the overall impact of the pandemic on the sport.

In a statement, World Rugby said the relief fund was worth approximately US$100 million to “assist unions through to the resumption of the sport.”

The relief fund will available for unions requiring immediate emergency funding subject to appropriate criteria being met. They said that the financial package could involve advances and loans and World Rugby “is also committed to supporting emerging nations and regional associations where required.”

Rugby World Cup 2027

The race to determine the host nation for the next men’s Rugby World Cup, after France in 2023, looks to be a one-horse race after Argentina pulled out of hosting in 2027, leaving only Rugby Australia interested in hosting.

The decisions on where to host the 2027 and 2031 World Cup are due to be announced in 2021.

The next rugby World Cup is the women’s edition in New Zealand in 2021.

Asian rugby news

• HK and Singapore 7s 2020 postponed until October.
• Olympics and Paralympics 2021 dates set.
• How does Coronavirus affect rugby in Asia in 2020?
• How has Asian rugby been reacting to COVID-19?
• HK hosts Women and Girls Rugby Conference 2020.