PRPW recommend investigation into the re-election of Bill Beaumont

The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW) have issued a 59-page report recommending an investigation into the re-election of Bill Beaumont. The Englishman defeated Argentine Agustín Pichot for the spot of World Rugby chairman, winning re-election on May 12.

The voting was close and split within many regions, including the Americas. The PRPW’s report notes that Fiji backed Beaumont despite Pichot being the candidate suited to Fiji’s interests. This is one of the many issues included in the report.

The PRPW questioned the outcome, stating that World Rugby’s governance was “glaringly deficient.” PRPW chief executive Dan Leo stated that

“Serious questions are still to be answered about how Francis Kean, a man convicted of manslaughter, could have been accepted onto the World Rugby council. France had supported Kean’s nomination to World Rugby’s executive committee, though his candidacy was later withdrawn.”

Kean was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in December 2006. He completed three months of prison time before being released. He is the brother-in-law of Fijian military dictator Frank Bainimarama.

“Fiji supported Bernard Laporte’s successful bid for World Rugby’s vice-chairmanship, with the French union boss and Beaumont’s joint ticket ousting the challenge of Agustin Pichot. We believe that the entire process merits comprehensive review.”

“World Rugby does not consistently meet the necessary high standards of good governance, it is in breach of its commitments as a member of the Olympic movement, and continues to act in breach of its own bye-laws. When compared with other major international sports federations, World Rugby’s governance is glaringly deficient.”

The Veilomani Report outlines a total of 32 recommendations for World Rugby. Key points include that Rugby World Cups are balanced in favor of Tier 1 teams. It notes in detail how RWC tournaments have an unbalanced distribution of fixtures, citing CEO Brett Gosper for his inaccuracies. The report also notes that the World Rugby Council voting structure is non-democratic.