'Old school' Bill Beaumont bad news for Tier 2 nations

RFU Chairman Bill Beaumont is set to finally take the Chairmanship of World Rugby from Bernard Lapasset after narrowly missing out 4 years ago. This is not really such good news for Tier 2 nations.

It looks like RFU Chairman Bill Beaumont is being positioned to takeover from Bernard Lapasset, who is standing down from his role as WR Chairman in May, with the former England lock so far being the only person standing.

4 years ago Beaumont stood for election as the conservative candidate against Lapasset, who campaigned with a stance of further pushing global expansion and professionalism.

The vote was notably split and ill tempered. The Home Unions and NZRU strongly backed the more conservative view of Beaumont. Lapasset was backed by France and South Africa (with running mate Oregon Hoskins) whilst sweeping up virtually all the smaller votes from Regional Associations and 1 vote countries to sneak home 14 votes to 12.

One delegate at the time was quoted as saying the election 'was bitter and hard-fought' between two 'markedly different agendas' with Lapasset trying 'to drag rugby into the 21st century, making it inclusive instead of old school'.

Bernard Lapasset (left) with Bill
Beaumont (right). The two fought a
very close battle for chairmanship
of World Rugby 4 years ago.

Little of the specific policies from those candidates were actually made public, but the consensus both from the pattern of voting and reports suggests that, from the view of Tier 2 nations, Beaumont is far from the ideal man to takeover.

Indeed on one of the most talked about topics about expanding the sport has been regarding opening up more opportunities for nations to aspire to reaching a higher level, particularly in the case of Georgia, stuck winning the ENC every year, with just an odd one off game in November to play against Tier 1 opposition, a situation that puts them at a major disadvantage in numerous ways, both Lapasset and Beaumont have struck very different tones.

Whilst Lapasset offered support, albeit totally ineffectual support that was ignored, to the concept of offering the Georgians a ladder. Beaumont on the otherhand talked of 'tradition' and totally ruled out any expansion.

"I do not see it currently as being through an expanded Six Nations. Some countries would view their role slightly differently. We are extremely comfortable with the Six Nations because we have traditionally operated in that way." - Bill Beaumont

Beaumont also ignorantly stated in response to a query about Georgia and Romania seeking bigger, more meaningful fixtures that 'they do have a decent programme' and even mentioned June within that. Despite for those who don't know (like presumably Beaumont from the sounds of it), the Tbilisi Cup being the epitome of a meaningless tinpot trophy nobody whatsoever cares about, including the Georgians.

It has turned out the new WR council voting structure in actual fact is barely going to make much difference in terms of the influence of Tier 2 sides. Now Beaumont, an old school traditionalist who placates concerns over lack of meaningful fixtures with patronising nods to tinpot trophies like the Tbilisi Cup, taking charge unopposed.