Fundamental Change Needed To Avoid Southern Hemisphere Rugby Going Broke Warns NZ Rugby Chief

Re-elected World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has been given a stark warning by New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey and other southern hemisphere countries that things must change drastically for the good of the game

Impey says rugby in the southern hemisphere could be “gone” if Bill Beaumont doesn’t implement changes in his second term as World Rugby’s boss.

Beaumont won the World Rugby Chairman election despite all the SANZAAR nations backing Agustin Pichot. Beaumont immediately announced the concept of a new global tournament which could lead to two consecutive months of international action.

Impey said it has reached the point where Beaumont’s next moves must be transformative for the sake of rugby’s survival south of the equator.

“The reason New Zealand and the other SANZAAR countries voted against Bill is there’s been no progress for a couple of years in areas such as revenue sharing, eligibility or the rules of the game,” Impey told NewsTalk ZB.

“COVID-19 produces a chance for a total reset. While Bill has won and we’ve now got to support the winner, that is on the condition that there is fundamental change.

“We can’t carry on the way we’re going. Look at the finances of Rugby Australia, for example. It has got to change.

“If these guys don’t get on and make change, if it’s four more years of the same, we’ll be gone.”