Rugby: Close IRB vote proves change is needed says Tew

NZRU CEO Steve Tew. Photo / NZPA

It wasn't the result Steve Tew wanted but the New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive says the closeness of Bernard Lapasset's re-election proves change is required at the International Rugby Board.

Frenchman Lapasset today retained his position as chairman of the IRB after he was voted in for another four-year team by 14 votes to 12 at its reconvened interim meeting in Los Angeles.

Tew and the NZRU board were backing Lapasset's opponent Bill Beaumont because they saw the Englishman as the man more likely to effect the changes they have been agitating for - most notably the way funds are raised and distributed by the global body.

Not surprisingly, Tew struck a conciliatory tone today after the election results were confirmed.

In September, during the Rugby World Cup, he chose to give an interview to an English newspaper in which he said the All Blacks might have to boycott the next global tournament in England as it was costing them too much. But Tew today maintained the close nature of the voting showed that there was a desire for change.

South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins was elected vice-chairman ahead of Beaumont after securing Lapasset's casting vote following two rounds of voting which were tied 13-13. Beaumont, the current vice-chairman, had sought re-election.

"There is a signal in the game that things need to be done a little bit differently," said Tew. "There needs to be some changes and in the end there was a very close result for the chairmanship, a tied result for deputy and tied result for the last two positions on the executive.

"From our point of view we've made our point and we'll now back Bernard and we've assured him of that this afternoon at the end of the process. We were very up front about the whole thing. We had both Bill and Bernard both come in and talk to our board in New Zealand when they had the opportunity to do that during the Rugby World Cup. On balance we decided to support Bill and we explained that to Bernard face to face so he wasn't taken by surprise by any of that. We followed through on that today but in the end Bernard is now the chairman of the IRB and will have our full support."

Former All Blacks captain Graham Mourie, who had also stood for vice-chairman, was voted on to the executive committee alongside Beaumont, Tatsuzo Yabe (Japan), Giancarlo Dondi (Italy), Peter McGrath (Australia), Peter Boyle (Ireland) and Bob Latham (North American Caribbean Rugby Association).

The elections were originally scheduled for October 19 - the latter stages of the World Cup - but were adjourned until today, partly in order to dodge any controversy that could taint the tournament.

Tew said there was "nothing personal" in the NZRU's backing of Beaumont ahead of Lapasset, and he was confident the desired changes would happen.

"The work has started, we'd just like to see that accelerated in the New Year and hope that Bernard will put his energy and will in behind it."

Apart from the way funds are distributed by the IRB, a sticking point for Tew is the way the World Cup commercial rules protect the tournament's main sponsors to the detriment of teams' backers. Tew has said he would like to see a move to a Football World Cup model where nations are able to promote their own sponsors until a set day during the week of a match.

"Now that Bernard has been re-elected we'll continue to work well with him," Tew said. "We've just delivered a very successful World Cup both for the IRB, NZRU and our whole country and that's involved a very close working relationship with Bernard which has gone well. We've dealt with some pretty difficult issues during that period, not the least of which was Christchurch and Bernard was certainly an important part of that so no, we have a great relationship with the French and a great relationship with France and that will just continue."