Beaumont beats Pichot to World Rugby Chariman role

Former England and British and Irish Lions player, Bill Beaumont, has been re-elected as Chairman of World Rugby after beating Agustin Pichot to the position following the voting process.

Beaumont, who captained England 21 times in his 34 appearances represented England on the International Rugby Board in 1999 and was the tour manager for the 2005 Lions Tour

I am honoured to have been re-elected as Chairman of World Rugby. I would like to thank my union and region colleagues, members of the global rugby family and, of course my family, for all their support. Bernard and I will be working for everyone in this great game.@WorldRugby

— Sir Bill Beaumont (@BillBeaumont) May 2, 2020

Beaumont achieved a first-round simple majority of 28-23 in the election which was independently managed by PwC, standing against Agustín Pichot. Standing unopposed, Fédération Française de Rugby President Bernard Laporte was elected the new Vice-Chairman. A new Executive Committee was also confirmed with seven new members elected to join the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Chief Executive and two independents Angela Ruggiero and Lord Mervyn Davies. 

The results will officially be confirmed at World Rugby’s annual meeting of Council on 12 May after which the new leadership’s four-year mandate will begin. Both candidates agreed to an early announcement given the process concluded at first round stage and no further votes were required for the Vice-Chairman and Executive Committee positions.