Rugby Europe backs Sir Bill Beaumont in World Rugby election

Rugby Europe has announced its backing for Sir Bill Beaumont in the upcoming World Rugby election for the chairman role.

Beaumont, who was appointed the World Rugby chairman in 2016 will be competing against vice-chairman and former Argentina skipper Agustin Pichot with the voting process underway this week.

Pichot is understood to have the backing of SANZAAR countries but Beaumont has strong backing of Six Nations teams and now Rugby Europe, which is the governing body responsible for the promotion, development, administration and management of international competitions for the 48 member unions across Europe has backed the former England skipper.

“As the vote for the position of World Rugby Chairman opened on Sunday, April 26th, 2020, Rugby Europe has decided to take the position in favour of the project led by the current Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont,” a Rugby Europe statement read.

“During its last meeting, which was held on April 8 by conference call, the Rugby Europe Board of Directors unanimously validated this position and gave its proxy to the president, Mr. Octavian Morariu.

“The manifesto led by Sir Bill Beaumont and the president of the FFR, Bernard Laporte, corresponds to the priority actions necessary for the development of rugby in Europe.

“Rugby Europe considers that the substantial work initiated over the last few years, in terms of governance reforms, the structure of men’s and women’s competitions and financial support for member unions, should allow our sport to face the current crisis and become better structured for the challenges ahead.”