Fiji’s seat on WR Council is held by FRU and was never awarded to Kean – Sir Bill Beaumont

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont has stated that Fiji's seat on the World Rugby Council is held by the Fiji Rugby Union and was never awarded to FRU Chairman, Francis Kean himself, and stuff.co is also reporting that Beaumont has confirmed that World Rugby is investigating the allegations about Kean.

However World Rugby has not yet confirmed who is specifically conducting the inquiry into allegations of Kean making homophobic comments in a audio recording while being the Fiji Corrections Commissioner.

Radio NZ is reporting that when asked if World Rugby should introduce a fit and proper persons test for prospective nominees, Sir Bill said such matters will be dealt with in the forthcoming review into the governance of World Rugby, which will be chaired by British Olympic Association Chairman Sir Hugh Robertson.

Sir Bill Beaumont has also defended World Rugby's role in the nomination and subsequent withdrawal of Francis Kean's bid for a seat on the governing body's all powerful Executive Committee.

The Fiji Rugby Union Chairman's nomination was withdrawn on 21st April, and his place on the World Rugby Council is now taken up by FRU CEO, John O’Connor following the allegations against Kean.

Beaumont said as soon World Rugby heard of the latest allegations they responded to them and Kean's nomination was withdrawn.

He says the inquiry into the matter remains ongoing.

Beaumont has also stressed he was never personally nominated for re-election by Francis Kean.

Meanwhile Beaumont wants to press on immediately with plans to review eligibility rules which could provide a long-awaited boost for Pacific Island nations.

Beaumont pledged in his manifesto to conduct a full governance review of World Rugby, including a possible shake-up of current eligibility rules, which largely restrict players to representing one nation at test level.

He said he wanted that work to start straight away and believed his proposal would benefit Pacific Island nations and allow players, who might have played a sevens tournament or a handful of tests for a tier one nation, to be able to represent a second national team, provided they had a passport for that country.

Any changes to eligibility rules would require a two-thirds majority in the World Rugby Council and, while previous attempts have failed, Beaumont said he backed his ability to persuade voting members of his vision.

Pacific Rugby Players CEO, Aayden Clarke, said work around changing regulation eight had already begun with the governing body through the Pacific Island Working Group, which also includes representatives from the Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions as well as World and Oceania Rugby.

The Pacific Working Group last met in August prior to the Rugby World Cup and Aayden Clarke said it provides an important link between Pacific Unions, the players and World Rugby.

Clarke also said the re-election of Sir Bill Beaumont provides some clarity in a time of great uncertainty and means they can now continue the work they have started.

Clarke said while players associations' don't have a vote on the World Rugby Council, his organisation, which represents players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, ensure they make their views and priorities known at the top table.

Sir Bill Beaumont has also signaled his desire to revive plans for a Nations Cup involving the top half a dozen teams from northern and southern hemispheres.

Fiji and Japan had been poised to join the Southern grouping under the original proposal, which fell through after Six Nations teams would not agree to allow promotion and relegation to a second tier European competition.

Meanwhile the FRU says the decision to support Sir Bill Beaumont and Bernard Laporte to lead World Rugby was a strategic one by the FRU Board that was birthed and nurtured prior to and since Fiji’s ascension to the World Rugby Council.

FRU CEO, John O’Connor says the win by Sir Bill Beaumont and Bernard Laporte augers well for Fiji Rugby.

FRU has also confirmed that it will not make any comments on World Rugby’s statement on Kean’s nomination withdrawal and inquiry.