World Rugby has confirmed the nominations for the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman, which will be determined at the annual meeting of Council on 12 May, 2020.

In accordance with the World Rugby Bye-Laws, member unions were invited to submit nominations for the position of World Rugby Chairman and/or Vice-Chairman by the closing date of 12 April, 2020. All nominations had to be proposed and seconded by a member union and/or Regional Association.

Beaumont and Pichot nominated for Chairman

Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont is standing for a second term and has been nominated and proposed by the Fédération Française de Rugby and seconded by the Fiji Rugby Union.

Vice-Chairman Agustín Pichot (Union Argentina de Rugby) was nominated and proposed by Unión Argentina de Rugby and seconded by Rugby Australia and Sudamérica Rugby.

Pichot has made a clear move to challenge Beaumont, tweeting a document that outlines his platform:

This is a critical election at a critical time for Rugby.
I’m running to be Chairman of World Rugby. Read my plan below to see how I will:

•Secure the investment needed for our future
•Support both established and emerging unions
•Create a global game pic.twitter.com/JnQfrZEWsR

— Agustín Pichot (@AP9_) April 11, 2020

At its heart, PIchot's proposal is to think much more globally that World Rugby has done in the past—focusing more in lower-tier nations, and on actually driving growth of participation. World Rugby has been criticized repeatedly for only thinking of the major nations in terms of setting rules for participation, allotting funds, and allotting attention. 

Pichot said this to Nik Simon at the Daily Mail:

"Everyone has to have a voice and the long-term goal is for everyone to have a vote. It's early days and it won't be easy, but rugby has got to be democratic. At the moment, it's not fair. We can't keep patronising poor countries with handouts and bailouts – 50 grand to Fiji when they play in England. 

"We need a modern mindset of democracy. Revenue sharing is important. I want the Six Nations to make much more money, but I want to redistribute the money in a different way. I want investment in new markets and the women's game. You want to see the World Cup expand, but to do that you need sustainable pathways for nations like Brazil or Tunisia. At the moment, some of the decisions being made look like an old boys' club."

Bernard Laporte nominated for Vice-Chairman

Fédération Française de Rugby President Bernard Laporte has been nominated and proposed by the Rugby Football Union and seconded by Federația Română de Rugby .

Where contested, Chairman and Vice-Chairman candidates must achieve a simple majority of the votes held by the members of Council present, in line with the electoral process set out under the bye-law. The vote numbers will be published.

Executive Committee Nominations

there are seven spots and eight nominations, so the top seven are voted in. Former USA Rugby Chairman Bob Latham, who has been hugely active on the international scene, is one of the nominees.

Mark Alexander (South African Rugby Union), nominated and proposed by Rugby Africa and the South African Rugby Union and seconded by New Zealand Rugby and the South African Rugby Union.

Khaled Babbou (Rugby Africa), nominated and proposed by Rugby Africa and seconded by the South African Rugby Union and the Fédération Française de Rugby.

Bart Campbell (New Zealand Rugby), nominated and proposed by New Zealand Rugby and seconded by the South African Rugby Union.

Gareth Davies (Welsh Rugby Union), nominated and proposed by the Scottish Rugby Union and seconded by the Welsh Rugby Union.

John Jeffrey (Scottish Rugby Union), nominated and proposed by the Welsh Rugby Union and seconded by the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Ratu Vilikesa Bulewa Francis Kean (Fiji Rugby Union), nominated and proposed by the Fiji Rugby Union and seconded by the Fédération Française de Rugby.

Bob Latham (USA Rugby), nominated and proposed by USA Rugby and seconded by Rugby Americas North.

Brett Robinson (Rugby Australia), proposed and nominated by Rugby Australia and seconded by the Unión Argentina de Rugby.

Remote Meetings

With the current COVID-19 pandemic making it impossible for meetings to go ahead as scheduled, World Rugby has confirmed that the schedule of May Council and committee meetings will be held remotely. For the Council meeting, PwC has been appointed as independent auditors for the election.

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Executive Committee will be elected for a period of four years commencing immediately after the results are announced by the auditor to Council on 12 May.