Brent Impey urges World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont to alter the way the global game is funded

New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey has urged recently re-elected World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont to alter the way the global game is funded.

Impey warned Beaumont that the southern hemisphere countries may go under if he does not implement those changes swiftly and stated that New Zealand Rugby is seriously considering the concept of privately funded Test tours in a bid to try and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

National rugby bodies, especially in the southern hemisphere, have been hit hard by lockdown measures and the sudden halt in play which leaves the SANZAAR countries heading towards an unusual financial crisis.

Rugby in the southern nations have been frustrated for years over the issues such as a lack of revenue-sharing and now look set to take matters into their own hands unless Beaumont acts quickly on his mandate for change.

Impey says the reason New Zealand and the other Sanzaar countries voted against Beaumont is that there has been no progress for a couple of years such as revenue sharing, eligibility or the rules of the game.

He says the COVID-19 crisis produces a chance for a total reset and while Bill has been re-elected, they cannot carry on the way they are going.

He adds if nothing changes, rugby will be gone in another four years.

[Source: Planet Rugby]