Australian Brett Robinson has been elected as the new chairman of World Rugby, replacing former England captain Sir Bill Beaumont, who will step down after eight years in the role.
Robinson edged France’s Abdelatif Benazzi for the position by two votes at a World Rugby meeting in Dublin on Thursday.
But what does his election mean for rugby, and what changes can be expected in the future?
Who is Brett Robinson?
Thursday’s vote made history, with Dr. Brett Robinson becoming the first person from the southern hemisphere to hold World Rugby’s top job.
He is a former Australian flanker who was capped 16 times by the Wallabies between 1996 and 1998. He is also the former captain of the ACT Brumbies Super 12 side.
In what would be a rarity in modern rugby, his professional rugby career was impacted by his aspirations in medicine. He may have won more Test caps had he not first earned a medical degree from the University of Queensland. “My personal purpose when I was growing up was always to be concerned about people’s well-being,” he told Australian media in 2021. “I have a deep stake in that.”
Dr. Brett Robinson has been elected as the new chairman of World Rugby Charles McQuillan – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
He later attended Oxford University, where he earned a doctorate degree in philosophy, specialising in clinical orthopaedics.
After retiring from playing rugby, he had stints as both the high-performance manager and assistant chair of Rugby Australia, while he has also held multiple high-level positions in business.
His bid for World Rugby chair was seconded by England and also supported by New Zealand.
What is his plan for rugby?
Upon being elected, Robinson said he wants to deliver in five key areas: Financial sustainability, growth, fan engagement, player safety and the culture of the governing body.
In brief, Robinson is a candidate promising change, but not revolution. As he sees it, the organisation needs to improve what it is already doing, rather than rip up the script.
Robinson’s closest rival for the gig was Benazzi, a Moroccan-born former France captain, who played in three World Cups, including the 1999 final. His bid was supported by South Africa, so the election didn’t have a northern hemisphere- southern hemisphere divide.
The two men had different ideas on the job.
One of Robinson’s main goals is for the sport to sort out its financial troubles by taking the game to new markets, while also managing costs.
South Africa players celebrate their Rugby World Cup victory over New Zealand. World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
He was apart of the decision to host the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States, and he is also a strong proponent of the proposed Nations Championship tournament — a new two-tier competition set to be included in the global calendar from 2026, which is expected to grow the game and bring in revenue.
Robinson is an advocate for taking rugby to new markets, including the Middle East.
When the original proposal for the Nations Championship fell through in 2019, Robinson was left frustrated by the missed opportunity.
“It was one of the most disappointing moments for me that we missed that opportunity [with the Nations Championship]. There were forces at play that meant at the time it wasn’t meant to be. The great thing is it has come around again. I don’t want to see us miss it again — because we can’t afford to,” Robinson told The Times in August.
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There will also be a focus on the continued development of the women’s game, with its expansion seen as a major growth opportunity for rugby. It is hoped next year’s World Cup in England will be the biggest and most successful to date.
He also emphasised the need for growth, with rugby at risk of being left behind in the competitive world of professional sport.
“The projections of a £530 million surplus from the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia or £700m in the United States in 2031 will only happen if we continue to grow,” Robinson said.
His main opponent for the job, Benazzi, agreed rugby needed to engage in new markets, but he was firmly against the 20-minute red card initiative.
Robinson also made a pitch on his medical background as a key voice on player welfare and is confident the game is heading in the right direction with regard to the concussions.
He has praised initiatives including new mouthguards worn by players which measure the impact of contact.
What does he need to solve?
It will come as no surprise to any rugby fan that the financial future of the sport is at a crossroads. Robinson pulls no punches on the topic, too.
On a recent episode of the Good, Bad and the Rugby podcast, he said the top unions’ financial status was “if not creaking, completely busted.”
At a domestic level, three English clubs in London Wasps, London Irish and Worcester, as well as the Jersey Reds, have all folded in recent years. In Australia, the Melbourne Rebels have also collapsed.
“I’m quite humbled to be asked to … step into the chair, but I’m impatient,” Robinson added on the podcast. “But you’ve got to try and work within to drive change. So it’s about working out how you agitate, but coalesce and shift everyone together.”
The financial pressure on rugby is being felt across all the leading unions.
On the pitch, there is a need to improve the product and make it more attractive to younger audiences. Frequent rule changes and tinkering have led many to criticise some aspects of the game which can be confusing for new fans especially.
Rugby Australia for example is battling the rise in popularity of the NRL and AFL, with rugby lagging behind. The multi-million dollar signing of Joseph Sua’ali’i from rugby league was one ploy to prompt interest in the 15-a-side code, but there are broader issues within the sport, such as the Super Rugby competition and promoting their star players, that need attention.
In England, rugby will always be in a battle to be the No. 2 sport and the alternative to football. The Premiership is in a battle to bring in new audiences, with interest in the Six Nations always likely to be high.
World Rugby are attempting to speed the game up. The autumn internationals have seen the introduction of shot clocks for scrums and lineouts, as well as a trial for 20-minute red cards. But more needs to be done to increase the attractiveness of rugby globally.
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