Australia's Dr. Brett Robinson Narrowly Elected World Rugby Chairman by 2 Votes, First Southern Hemisphere Leader

Nov 14, 2024, 01:03 PM

Dr. Brett Robinson of Australia has been elected as the new Chairman of World Rugby on Thursday, becoming the first representative from the southern hemisphere to hold the position, succeeding Bill Beaumont. The election took place at the 2024 Interim meeting of the World Rugby Council in Dublin, Ireland. Robinson, a former Wallabies flanker, secured the chairmanship after two rounds of voting, narrowly defeating Morocco-born French candidate and former Test captain Abdelatif Benazzi by two votes. In the first round, Robinson received 22 votes, Benazzi 21, and Italian candidate Andrea Rinaldo 9 votes; Rinaldo was eliminated after the first round. The second round saw Robinson win with 27 votes to Benazzi's 25. Robinson has expressed commitment to working closely with member unions and addressing rugby’s financial "crisis" that he must immediately fix. The election is seen as a significant shift in rugby governance, with hopes for fresh global vision and leadership. Meanwhile, Argentina's Agustín Pichot criticized the outcome, saying "It's a British game. An English win," citing the RFU's backing of Robinson. Benazzi had campaigned on promises to revolutionize the African game and tap into new markets.