Global rugby tournament back on agenda as game looks to bounce back from coronavirus pandemic

Two consecutive months of international rugby action! It’s definitely back on the agenda, according to newly re-elected World Rugby boss Bill Beaumont, as the game looks to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.

Bill Beaumont returns as the boss of world rugby. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

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Newly re-elected World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has revealed plans for a new global tournament which could lead to two consecutive months of international action.

Beaumont is keen to resurrect plans for an annual competition, possibly with promotion and relegation, which were dropped last year, but stressed the European Six Nations would not be expected to change dates or format.

The former England captain’s challenger and former vice-chairman, Agustin Pichot, was the key driver of the Nations Championship idea but Beaumont has promised to carry it on.

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Outside the Six Nations and the southern hemisphere’s four-team Rugby Championship, which is due to take place in August and September this year, a 2017 agreement ensures dates in July and November are set aside for internationals.

“There could well be an appetite for putting the two windows together. It could be north going south in one month and then immediately afterwards the south would come north the next month,” said Beaumont, who has handed a second four-year term over the weekend.

“But bear in mind we have to take all stakeholders with us. You have to take the club game and European game with us.”

Beaumont revealed “embryonic” talks had begun with representatives from both hemispheres as well as the International Rugby Players union.

Old guard retains control of World Rugby

Former England captain Bill Beaumont has been re-elected as World Rugby chairman beating ex-Argentina skipper Agustin Pichot, the governing body announced on Saturday.

Beaumont, 68, who campaigned on the promise of opening up the sport, claimed 28 of the 51 votes to overcome the 45-year-old Pichot who planned to modernise the body and used the hashtag #GlobalGame on social media.

“I am honoured to accept the mandate of the World Rugby Council to serve as the international federation’s chairman once again and would like to thank my union and region colleagues, members of the global rugby family and, of course, my family for their full support,” said Beaumont in a statement released by World Rugby.

Bill Beaumont returns as the boss of world rugby. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

The announcement of the results was brought forward from the original date of May 12 due to the smoothness of the process.

Beaumont, who will have another four-year tenure, will be joined by the French Rugby Federation’s chief Bernard Laporte as his vice-chairman.

“Congratulations to my friend Sir Bill Beaumont on his re-election. I would also like to express my best wishes to Agustin Pichot, a legend of Argentinian rugby and a great rugby leader,” said Laporte, who is set to oversee France hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“I also want to thank all unions who have expressed their opinion in this important ballot, giving a clear mandate for the governance which Bill and I will undertake on their behalf,” he added.

The election process had been overshadowed by the resignation of Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) chairman Francis Kean from the world body’s council after accusations of “rampant homophobia”.

Agustin Pichot was unable to unseat Bill Beaumont. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Beaumont’s bid was seconded by the Pacific Island union but World Rugby stressed the former lock’s nomination came from the FRU, rather than from Kean.

Beaumont, who made 41 Test appearances for England as well as the British and Irish Lions before retiring in 1982, has overseen a $100 million (90.8 million euros) relief package for the game during the coronavirus pandemic.

USA Rugby filed for bankruptcy in March and Rugby Australia said it was to lose around 69 million euros in revenue if the rest of their season was lost due to the outbreak.

“During this unprecedented and global COVID-19 crisis, we must act and unite unions from the north and south and the professional leagues around a common objective to define a strong and sustainable future for all,” he said.

“We will pursue these reforms together and act in solidarity with the rugby family, to drive the game forward on and off the field, further the welfare of our players and make the sport more attractive and accessible.” Pichot, who retired from the sport 11 years ago and had been World Rugby vice-chairman since 2016, hinted at trying for the main position again in the future.

“Not this time, thanks to all for the support, from the bottom of my heart. #globalgame,” Pichot posted on Twitter on Saturday.

Originally published as Global rugby tournament back on agenda as game looks to bounce back from coronavirus pandemic