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How can these Six Nations rule World Rugby? Something is seriously wrong.
The World Rugby Presidential votes are in and no surprise to see no change happening right now. Sir Bill Beaumont along with the new Vice president Frenchmen Bernard Laporte were voted in over the last few days. Agustyn Pichot the Argentinian tried to bring about change but was lacking 3 votes to swing it his way.
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Never in doubt.
The writing was on the wall and this is going to be a tough nut to crack as the Six Nations has taken firm control of World Rugby. The six together count for 18 of the votes which is only 8 votes short of victory every time an election happens. Call it what you like but this is rigged and Laporte will be the next president in 4 years time.
The Southern Hemisphere counties and the the rest need to wake up as they will always be following the lead and being told what is right for them. I knew deep down that Pichot was the wrong person to challenge for the lead role and they need someone new and fresh who can lead properly.
World rugby is at a crossroads right now and having no new direction the same path will be maintained stagnating the growth of the sport. The money is lopsided and being controlled by the few. The power is in the hands of the Southern Hemisphere teams though and they still can't see it.
The time is now for them to get together and create something that generates far more income. The Rugby Championship and Super Rugby tournaments are stale and need refreshing with new ideas. Over the next four years they need to be able to increase their voting strength so including the fringe nations into something could help their cause.
What the Six Nations did to secure the Georgian vote was not illegal but smart on their part and anyone would have done the same. I hope that the votes are made public over the coming weeks so everyone can understand how this game has been played. The Irish should have been targeted for a vote as they were the one Six Nation that was screwed over by the French for hosting the 2023 World Cup. That one vote alone would have shifted the power leaving the votes at 25-26 and an upset victory.
It looks more and more like a deal has been done and can see Ireland hosting the 2031 World Cup sharing it with England, Wales and Scotland with the final in Dublin. I hate seeing the obvious as this is looking more obvious every time I read something "new". Buying of votes and cutting a deal to look after each individuals interest is nothing new but this has to change at some point.
Who knows the Southern Hemisphere could walk away from the whole set up forming their own with everyone else leaving the Six Nations holding absolutely nothing. I think this is what it is going to take to change things at the top and it should happen now if they have the balls for it. A World Cup without New Zealand,Australia,Argentina and South Africa is not a World Cup and will have no appeal to the rugby paying public and sponsors.This would bring World Rugby back to the boardroom table forcing changes they don't want.
The southern hemisphere would never walk away from the world cup. Its far too important to them.
The main problem that all of the money is in the European game. Money equals power and obviously votes as well.
I agree with you but something has to be done as many of the smaller nations that play like Samoa and Tonga will disappear if something doesn't change. I can see the 4 teams from the Rugby Championship doing something now and they need to. I can see them playing more games in America over the next 4 years as that is where the future money is.