New World Rugby chair Brett Robinson: Rugby finances at ‘crisis point’

Brett Robinson, the incoming World Rugby chairman, has declared that the financial sustainability of the game is “at crisis point” after winning Thursday’s election in Dublin, replacing outgoing chair Sir Bill Beaumont.

The Australian won the second round of voting by 27 to 25 over French rival Abdel Benazzi, confirming the former Wallaby as the first Southern-Hemisphere chair in World Rugby’s history.

Robinson described his appointment as “a great privilege and an honour”, before stressing that “work starts today, now”.

“There are a list of things that council want from me, having elected me, and I’ve got to start looking at those in some detail,” said Robinson, who will serve an initial four-year term.

“I was very clear leading into the elections that the financial sustainability of our member unions is at crisis point, so we have to find ways, collectively, to deal with that.

Brett Robinson will serve a four-year term, with the option to run for a second time in 2028. Photo / Getty Images

“I was really clear about the need to grow the game while ensuring our core markets are in a good place. I was clear about the competitions that matter to us – the Nations Championship getting off the ground, the women’s game continuing to grow, and our platform around the Sevens being reset after the Olympics.”

Robinson added that a key point was to listen to rugby fans, stressing that the game needs to change to promote more attacking play.

“There is not enough ball in play, too much senseless kicking, and we’re not promoting teams to attack,” he said.

“Finally, World Rugby as an organisation has been in the professional era for about 30 years. Now we’ve got so much ahead of us and to think about as an organisation, what our priorities are, and how we can be fit, lean, and ready to deliver.”

While the vote among the 52 members remains secret, the third candidate, Andrea Rinaldo, received more votes than expected in the first round with nine, having originally been forecast to receive six votes from his native Italy along with Ireland, suggesting late movement away from one of the Robinson or Benazzi camps, who finished the first round on 22 and 21 votes respectively.

Addressing Beaumont’s eight years in charge, World Rugby said the former England captain “will be remembered as a leader who delivered historic governance and international calendar reform, men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup expansion and a modernised Rugby World Cup hosting model, focused on delivering growth and impact and the boom in the women’s game”, while also steering the sport through “the turbulence of the global pandemic, while deepening relationships with professional leagues and player bodies”.

Brett Robinson’s five pledges as World Rugby chairman

• Financial sustainability across all member unions amid a rising cost base and wage inflation
• Prudent execution of the next phase of World Rugby’s global growth agenda
• Competitions that drive audience engagement and commercial outcomes
• Fan and player growth through investment in player safety, law reform and innovation
• A disciplined and fit for purpose governing body.