McLennan eyes bid for powerful role at World Rugby

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is considering a tilt at one of the most powerful positions in World Rugby, but could face stern opposition from within the region as political manoeuvring ramps up before a meeting this month.

Still mid-campaign in a turbulent overhaul of the game in Australia, McLennan confirmed he was also considering a run at the position of vice chairman of World Rugby, the game’s global governing body.

“Yes, a few people have asked me to throw my hat in the ring, it’s an intriguing thought. We’ll see if anything eventuates,” he said from Chicago on Wednesday.

Former Scottish Rugby chairman John Jeffrey will be confirmed in the vice chairman’s role at World Rugby meetings in Paris next week, taking over from disgraced French powerbroker Bernard Laporte, who was convicted of corruption in France.

Jeffrey will serve until November next year, the end of the current term, with speculation rife that the former Scotland international will run for the top job when current chairman Bill Beaumont steps down at the same time.

McLennan’s name has come up in international circles as a potential running mate, opening up the opportunity for Australia and its regional allies – New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina – to have direct representation at the top.

Agustin Pichot has resurfaced at SANZAAR and is rumoured to be eyeing another tilt at World Rugby’s top job.

But in an intriguing twist, the former Ten and News Corp executive, who has been chairman of RA since 2020 and has just started a two-year term as SANZAAR chairman, could face opposition from within the alliance.

South African Rugby president Mark Alexander is rumoured to be interested in the role and is seen in some circles as the front runner, given it was South Africa that seconded Scotland’s nomination of Jeffrey for vice chairman.

Former Argentina international Agustin Pichot has also emerged as a potential rival, despite stepping down from all formal roles in the game after being defeated by the Beaumont and Laporte ticket at the last elections.

Union Argentina de Rugby (UAR) has nominated Pichot as one of its two members on the SANZAAR board, giving rise to speculation the former Pumas No.9 is gearing up for another tilt at World Rugby chairman. He did not respond to this masthead when contacted for comment.

Former World Rugby vice chairman Bernard Laporte (right), was an ally to Australia and the southern hemisphere nations.Credit: Getty

McLennan acknowledged his path to power was not clear cut, but said it was in the best interests of Australia and its regional allies to have a representative close to the top of World Rugby.

“Gus or Mark might have a crack, somebody from New Zealand might have a crack, so who knows the lay of the land,” he said.

“It may not be me, but I do believe the south deserves a stronger voice at the table, and we’re certainly looking to innovate around law variations and at a Super Rugby level, including how we promote the game.”

McLennan would need a nomination and seconding nomination to run for election, and a simple majority of the votes held by the members present from World Rugby’s 52-person council.

There is much at stake for Australia and its allies. The north-south split in rugby is well-entrenched, with the powerful Six Nations unions – England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy – historically voting as a bloc, and the SANZAAR nations doing the same.

South Africa’s involvement in the Rugby Championship is not guaranteed beyond 2025.Credit: Getty

Australia, New Zealand and Argentina supported South Africa’s failed bid for the 2023 World Cup, for example, while the Six Nations unions in 2019 killed off the biggest structural shake-up of the game in the form of the Nations Championship, which was a plan to push the development of the so-called tier two nations – such as Japan, Fiji, Georgia and Samoa – through a promotion-relegation tournament against the tier one teams.

The SANZAAR nations have long considered it imperative to have one of their members as the vice chairman, to provide a foil to the north’s dominance. This was achieved when Pichot was deputy to Beaumont, but has been out of balance since the latter defeated the former to clinch another four-year term at the top.

In Pichot’s absence, Laporte was considered a SANZAAR ally, supporting Australia’s bid to host the 2027 World Cup. Notwithstanding the presence of former Wallaby Brett Robinson, New Zealand’s Bart Campbell and South Africa’s Alexander on World Rugby’s powerful executive committee, Laporte’s fall from grace has left the southern hemisphere with diminished influence on matters of strategic importance, such as reforms to the game’s laws and competition structures.

But fractured relationships within SANZAAR threaten to further marginalise Australia and New Zealand as international powers.

South Africa is firmly enmeshed in the northern hemisphere’s professional club competitions and remains noncommittal on its future in the Rugby Championship.

Relations remain strained between RA and New Zealand Rugby after McLennan’s tough approach to Super Rugby negotiations, while the word in regional circles is that South Africa is still upset it was booted out of Super Rugby by NZR and could use it as leverage to get an Alexander-Jeffrey ticket over the line next year.

A protracted three-way tussle between McLennan, Alexander and Pichot for a World Rugby chairman or vice chairman position risks distracting the bloc from shoring up its power, or fracturing it altogether.

The Six Nations unions are the most powerful bloc in international rugby.Credit: Getty

Nevertheless, a Jeffrey-McLennan or Jeffrey-Alexander ticket are curious propositions. Jeffrey is widely regarded as one of the most conservative figures in the game. He is said to be leading the resistance against the 20-minute red card – an Australian innovation – and recent moves to establish the biannual Nations Championship with promotion and relegation.

Further complicating matters is upcoming governance reform at World Rugby. Under the new rules, which come into effect at the same World Rugby council meeting next year when the new chairman and vice chairman will be elected, SANZAAR will have just two guaranteed spots on the executive committee and the maximum number of four-year terms a person can serve will be reduced from three to two.

It means Robinson, a former RA director and World Cup-winning Wallaby – who has advocated from within for law reforms such as the 20-minute red card, changes to eligibility laws and a move to a globally aligned professional and Test calendar – will not be able to serve another term. If he wants to continue to serve, he will have to run for chairman or vice chairman.

Another reform means that to run for vice chairman, a candidate will have to be a member of the executive committee. Australia will lose its seat at the table unless it can replace Robinson or get a chairman elected from outside its current executive committee ranks.

White’s choice

Wallabies halfback Nic White is leaving the Brumbies and could end up at the Western Force or overseas, according to sources close to negotiations.

Disappointed with an offer from Rugby Australia and the Brumbies, who also have highly rated young halfback Ryan Lonergan, White had decided to leave Australia until the Force came knocking.

The Force confirmed they were in talks with the 59-Test veteran and have also been linked with Reds and Wallabies utility James O’Connor.

“Discussions with Nic White are still progressing,” the Force said in a statement on Wednesday.

Nic White could make a move west to join the Force.Credit: Getty Images

“Nothing is confirmed as the focus remains on this Saturday’s match and the current playing group for the remaining five games of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

“White is a player the Western Force would be interested in, bolstering international experience and on-field leadership within the Western Force squad.”

O’Connor made his professional debut with the Force in 2008. He went on to become the second-youngest debutant in Wallabies’ history at 18 years and 126 days when he made his Test debut that year.

He left the Force in 2012 to join the Melbourne Rebels, and spent stints in England and France amid off-field troubles before signing for the Queensland Reds for a second time in 2019.

O’Connor’s contract with the Reds runs out at the end of this season, and the Force are in talks with the 32-year-old, sources confirmed.

with AAP

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