Finally Agustín Pichot will be the candidate to bring together the southern hemisphere in the elections for president of World Rugby.
Who will Pichot, already World Rugby vice-president, face in his campaign?
The Englishman Bill Beaumont, a man from the north and the current head of World Rugby.
These two have been battling each other since a year ago, when Beaumont did not give his support to the World League project in Argentina.
Who will win? How are the votes likely to be cast?
The map indicates each group has 22 nations in their hemispheres, with seven to be defined. In total there are 51 votes. The magic number that ensures the presidency is therefore 26.
Pichot and the south would have the 12 votes of the SANZAAR member countries – they add three each: New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina – plus two each from Oceania, Africa, Asia and South America. Uruguay also has one, and there’s probably also Georgia.
Beaumont and the north would be divided like among the 18 Six Nations votes – England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy – the two from Europe and the two from Japan.
Weren’t the Japanese with the south? Yes, but they were kicked out of Super Rugby from next year and could ally with the northern nations.
Who else is in play? The south works closely with Samoa and Fiji, which would give Pichot two more votes.
On the other hand, the north would hope to add the two from Canada and Romania. In this way, they would be tied 24-24.
The three votes, then, that seem to define the bid are those of the North America region (two) and the United States (one).
Naturally, being an election in which there will surely be promises and betrayals, nothing is assured. The two groups have a long road of negotiations to retrace and two weeks to add the necessary votes.
The World Rugby chair is the prize.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Nothing, my friend. Nothing will happen. I am not accusing him of anything . I am just stating facts that for me , and some others, are in a conflict of interest. That is all there is. But again, that is my view and also if you read my comments I am very please with things he has done and aims to do. Do not try to take to a place I do not want to go and I rather go with the positives things. May be all these is something new but if you are so interested pls feel free to search the web and will find plenty of material about it. My article was just and information about what is going on and not an article about AP, so lets keep it that way.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Not really, I rather talk about the aspects I like about him. My answer was directed to OB . I see many good things about AP as a player and the battles he engages and the way he fights them. IMO he is like the leader of the rebels and he is the only Spanish speaking man in WR that imo wants to make changes that I think are very positive to the game. The WL was not approved bit the Scotland and Italy refusing to have promotions and relegations is just an excuse. The real reason for the the refusal was money. The WL would have produced twice as much money than the current situation where the money is made with RWC, but the problem with the WL is that the IRB would not control that money like it does to day. The money would have ended up in each in each individual Union to do as they please with it and that is the reason the WR decided for no go.
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
Status quo what? Blah blah to you and your conspiracies about the NH?
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Yep BB done a solid job keeping the PI nations poor, and their players underpaid... whilst the system he chairs exploits them..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
So he (AP) is a business man taking advantage of his contacts within the industry in which he played and worked ..wow.. Facts .. give us facts if you want to denigrate him for those practices.. I am confident BB would be doing the same being part of the system up North...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Sorry bro but you are publicly suggesting impropriety on the part of AP (what is this repeated AP9 ?? please explain...) - don't refer elsewhere - state it plainly and for your own protection - with evidence.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
If you can get UAR to open up the contracts pls be my guess. Besides AP is in business with rich miner company from Australia and represents the mining Co. in Argentina trying to take over a mine of Gold that now is in the hands of another big gold Company. That mine is in the province of San Juan. Pls Google from what province is the president of UAR, A province where rugby barely is played and this guy became president just at the same time AP made the deal with Twiggy. Before that , nobody knew the relationship of the president with rugby, but as you can be informed doing a bit of research is that he is a lawyer that represents mining Co. Another issue is that AP sat on the board in US rugby and that is in direct conflict of interest with his position in WR. There is plenty more. Pls check the relationship of ESPN and AP. All these things are in a claer conflict of interest with his position in WR. And in the same manner that I do not give my opinion on what is going in AU rugby Union because I do not the details, I will give my opinion on AP. He knows who I am and knows my face. And I have chatted with him via wups , chats that I still have in my phone. He knows what are the things about him that I like and the things I do not. But he also knows he cannot control me like he does with the press, so he does not bother me. And pls, you can also read in my comments the things I like about him so do not stick to the ones I do not like. If AP has a problem with the article he has plenty of lawyers to try to stop me. I live here in Buenos Aires and it easy for us to see each other in different events. I tell you more, in the trip to NZ to see the final of Jaguares we sat next to each other and chat like normal persons even after some differences we had. So pls, do not give orders of what can I say or what I cannot. If you do not like what I write do not read it.
Old Bugger
Guest
It's not the collective knowledge that you both have about this person's particular past that I'm concerned about - it is the fact that you both presume/assume that what he did in the past, will be repeated in this different environment if, he is successful in this pursuit. You are both IMO, suggesting that UAR's inept ability to provide accountability over its representatives, will continue within WR and therefore, AP will simply carry-on with what he's done before, without any WR oversight. I sometimes think that WR makes some foolish decisions but, to presume that they would provide a platform for AP to "feather his nest" in his role as the Chairman without any oversight, is unbelievable. If, as you both suggest, he has taken advantage of prior circumstance to improve his personal week-being then I suggest, you both submit a formal complaint (with supporting evidence) about his actions and at the same time, complain about your own national body and their own incompetence, to prevent AP's activities to persist, without accountability. Provide some formal evidence of AP's misdeeds otherwise please, keep your current unsubstantiated accusations, to yourselves.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
That is exactly our point. And I know some of this quite well. There is no corruption justice in Argentina. None. No accountability either. We are both stating this.
Old Bugger
Guest
That's a very strong accusation from both of you. Do you honestly believe that WR's board, its procedures, its member unions and its protocols will simply allow its elected Chairman, to get away with such accomplishments of "feathering his own nest?" Perhaps he did so in UAR but gees, to suggest he could do so in WR is IMO, quite bloody harmful and derogatory to rugby, in general. Has he ever been publicly accused or charged with what you both suggest?? If yes, then he shouldn't even be a nominee for this role but, I suggest he hasn't hence why he was able, to be elected as VC. He may be nowhere near the experienced administrator as a certain Mr Sepp Blatter with regards to world sports affairs and yet Mr SB, became linked to some very highly publicised corrupt business practices, whilst leader of FIFA. Look, if there is any concern regarding longevity of office then simply suggest that WR decree a ruling that says the Chair is available for 2 terms only, of 4 years per term.
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
Your advocating tighter eligibility rules like Pichot , Beaumont wants to loosen em Eg allow flip flopping between a Tier 1 and Tier 2. Your views on eligibility like Pichots aren’t popular with the pacific islands.
Mr headmaster
Guest
voting system is so biased .... scotland has 3 votes and brazil 0, brazil has more players . You can find many examples like this. everything has to change: voting, world rugby,calendar,leagues, test matches, laws. Great insight views from NZ breakdown show, you can watch it @allblacks youtube channel
pm
Roar Rookie
Very informative answer. Thanks N.B
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
I am not a fan of Pichot by any stretch, He is a populist, his agenda is to push the UAR to their forefront with ESPN South America and by extension Uruguay and other countries. But during his tenure Argentina has been the main beneficial, However having said that Beaumont is not forward thinking just read his manifesto and no mention of T2 Rugby or growth of Women’s is all about the top end and the top nations. He is playing to keep the establishment at the top table. Now Pichot’s idea of the the World League was a good idea but it failed in the details for T2 Rugby, I don't see the harm in revisiting the idea as long as it is beneficial to the game as a whole and not just the T1 nations. The reality is the game is going to be fundamentally changed after the virus, and it’s going to require the like of the US (if they get out of receivership), Spain, Canada, Germany, Colombia, etc to be elevated at international level in order for the future to be better off financially. The likes of Australia and New Zealand have been living off their reputations for far too long and need to come to terms that the sport turned professional 25 years and the game has been living on the edge of a precipice. Everything was ok when there was no virus, the unions could fudge all the financially figures to make themselves look healthier than what they were. Now the virus has exposed the true nature of where things stand. The insular nature of the game has almost certainly come back to haunt them. So change is needed at the top. I don't know if Pichot is the right man for the job, I do think he wants to see the game have a larger presence worldwide, but this is more than what the current crop of (the old) board members are offering.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
I will tell you what Carlos and I do not trust him in some aspects and I am sure Carlos will agree. In Argentina all rugby is amateur but Jaguares. AP is involved business wise in all posible things that has to do with Los Pumas and Jaguares. From TV contracts to any sponsorship there is. So our claim is that he uses UAR for his personal monetary profits.. He uses a non profit organization to make money. In the other hand the man has done many things for rugby in Argentina . He has been fighting a long battle to professionalise part of the rugby in Argentina. The introduction of Jaguares in SR and Los Pumas in the RCH is all his work no question about it. The amateur rugby has increased the quality and quantity . He made jobs for many people around rugby, ect.. The transparency issue is that nobody exactly knows how every contract at pro level is done and what it contains. As an example the introduction this year of a pro team in the new league in South America where Argentina has a team , Ceibos, which it is a mixed of UAR and private money but nobody knows a thing about it because the contract has a confidentiality clause . These are the type of things about the transparency that Carlos and my self do not like. I am more of a person that says you have to take the good with the bad and make a balance and as long us that balance is positive I am ok, while Carlos is more that drastic on this things which I respect.
Busted Fullback
Guest
I'm a little confused. I thought that the Sunwolves were "allowed to resign" from SR due to the fact that Japan RU chose to no longer underwrite the 'Wolves but rather look after their own national competition. They sound very much like the English model. Not really sure how this will impact voting. My own feeling is that every time SH sides/Unions have made changes or adapted to situations that benefit their teams or administration, the NH boys have found a way to change the Laws/interpretations/procedures that not only nulify the advances made by the SH but put the SH even further behind. It is, after all, their game (or so they would have you think. They certainly do.) I therefore think that it will remain status quo (da dum, da dum).
pm
Roar Rookie
Can you explain a bit more why you don't trust him, especially, Carlos?
Jacko
Guest
Carlos Im unsure of the transparency that Beaumont has...Or the plan or the team. At least with Pichot he has a platform of the world League so I know what we get if he gets in. Beaumont has half the Union worlds best interests at heart...The NH half. What is Beaumonts plan? What is his election platform? I havnt heard a thing
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Not really, but I think a change is needed it to balance the power a bit. Clubs in the North have become very powerful and some are even cheating their success by socking player from the South paying salaries and contracts breaking their own rules .With those players in the South we can have a better rugby and thus a better product to sell to TV producers. All that translate to enhance the welfare of the players and more people would like to play the game. With a WL and proper eligibility rules the money will even up among North, South and tier two nations and making a more fair game on time.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
“AP9 will get very rich”. This is what I think too and makes me outraged. And this is what people on the Roar and others don’t understand.