New Zealand Rugby says it backed Agustin Pichot against incumbent Sir Bill Beaumont in the contest for the chairmanship of World Rugby out of frustration at the governance of the world body.
Chairman Brent Impey said New Zealand Rugby has been frustrated for “many years” with World Rugby’s policies and direction and supported Pichot, currently Beaumont’s deputy, as a reform candidate.
New Zealand, with Sanzaar partners Australia, South Africa and Argentina support Pichot.
However, Beaumont has the support of the Six Nations group — England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and France — and is expected to amass the 26 votes he needs to remain chairman. The outcome of the election will be announced May 12.
Impey told New Zealand’s annual meeting yesterday he hoped the winner of the election would heed calls for change.
Impey says if you look back over many years, World Rugby has been very frustrating from a New Zealand perspective.
He adds and he thinks the straw that broke the camel’s back was the Nations Championship, which NZ were strongly in favour of.
[Source: Associated Press]
