Australian Brett Robinson has been elected as the new chair of World Rugby alongside English man Jonathan Webb as his Vice after two rounds of voting at the 2024 intern meeting of Council in Dublin, Afrosport reports.
The 54-year-old assumes this position by being chosen over Abdelatif Benazzi of France and Andrea Ronaldo of Italy by the 52 members that make up the Word Rugby Council.
The new chair said while addressing the World Rugby council 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 I’m heartened by our shared administration to continue to build on the strength of our game.”
He promised to deliver, financial sustainability, prudent execution of next phase of World Rugby’s growth, competitions that drives audience engagement and commerce, a disciplined and fit-for-purpose governing body and fan and player growth through the appropriate investments.
The voting process saw Andrea Rinaldo the first to be eliminated with only nine out of 52 votes and Brett Robinson (22) edging out the Frenchman, Benazzi (21) with only one more vote in his favour.
The second round was also as tight between the two with Robinson winning by a simple majority after allocating 27 votes and Abdelatif Benazzi lost with two votes (25).
The council also voted on other positions as the internal structures were laid down. They include:
Vice-Chair vote
Mark Alexander (South Africa) 15
Susan Carty (Ireland) 14
Jonathan Webb (England) 23 (elected)
Regional Association
Qais Al-Dhalai (Asia Rugby) 15
Herbert Mensah (Rugby Africa) 21 (elected)
Richard Sapias (Oceania Rugby) 15
High-Performance Union (North) (x2)
Susan Carty (Ireland) 46 (elected)
Richard Collier-Keywood (Wales) 24
Jonathan Webb (England) 29 (elected)
High-Performance Union (South) (x2)
Mark Alexander (South Africa) 34 (elected)
Bart Campbell (New Zealand) 31 (elected)
John Eales (Australia) 19
Agustín Pichot (Argentina) 18
Non-High-Performance Union (x1)
Sally Dennis (Canada) 28 (elected)
Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi (Samoa) 5
Sebastian Pineyrua (Uruguay) 18
