Sir Bill Beaumont hands over baton to Aussie

NEWS: Sir Bill Beaumont’s successor has been elected with the news that Australian Brett Robinson will take up the seat as the new Chair of World Rugby.

This follows two rounds of voting at the 2024 Interim Meeting of Council held in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday.

At 54, Robinson becomes the first elected Chair from the Southern Hemisphere. He was chosen over fellow candidates Abdelatif Benazzi (France) and Andrea Rinaldo (Italy), by the 52 members of the World Rugby Council.

The vote was conducted as a secret ballot overseen by scrutineers and independent observers in line with World Rugby Bye-Laws following a nomination and vetting process. Robinson will serve a four-year term, with the possibility to stand for re-election for a second four-year term in 2028.

Addressing Council, Robinson said: “It is an immense privilege and honour to have been elected World Rugby Chair by my Council colleagues today. During the course of the process, I have had many conversations with my colleagues around the world and am heartened by our shared ambition to continue to build on the strength of our game.

“Throughout this election process, I made it clear that my commitment, if elected, would be to work closely with member unions and the World Rugby executive team to deliver:

• Financial sustainability across all member unions amid a rising cost base and wage inflation
• Prudent execution of the next phase of World Rugby’s global growth agenda
• Competitions that drive audience engagement and commercial outcomes
• Fan and player growth through investment in player safety, law reform, and innovation
• A disciplined and fit-for-purpose governing body.

“Today, I reiterate my commitment as Chair to do so, to harness the abundant passion in our game and to lead for all, by creating the right culture to deliver commercial outcomes for a contemporary global sport, with the commitment to set a course and see it through.

“I congratulate those elected today and extend my best wishes to those who had the courage to run for office but were not successful. I look forward to now getting to work with the new World Rugby Executive Board, Alan and the World Rugby executive, and my colleagues in the member unions.”

Robinson succeeds Sir Bill Beaumont, whose maximum eight-year term has now officially ended. Among many highlights, Beaumont will be remembered as a leader who delivered historic governance and international calendar reform, men’s and women’s World Cup expansion, and a modernised World Cup hosting model, focused on delivering growth and impact and the boom in the women’s game. He also steered the sport through the turbulence of the global pandemic, while deepening relationships with professional leagues and player bodies.

Voting results – Chair election

Round 1
Abdelatif Benazzi 21
Andrea Rinaldo 9 (eliminated)
Brett Robinson 22

Round 2
Abdelatif Benazzi 25
Brett Robinson 27

The 54-year-old is the fifth man to occupy the role since it became an elected post in 1996, previously the members supplied the chairman on a rotating annual basis.

This is the list of chairmen since the first election in 1996:

Vernon Pugh (WAL) (1996-2003)

Syd Millar (IRL) (2003-07)

Bernard Lapasset (FRA) (2008-16)

Bill Beaumont (ENG) (2016-24)

Brett Robinson (AUS) (2024-)