Pichot comes off the bench swinging

Amid all the publicity and discussion over the future of rugby in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Easter Sunday's announcement that Agustin Pichot is challenging Bill Beaumont for the chairmanship of World Rugby has lobbed another grenade into the administrative melee.

Beaumont, a representative of the old face of the game, whether he likes it or not, may have thought he would be unchallenged for the chairmanship. But Pichot, the Argentine halfback in his playing days, produced a dart around the blindside to make a late entry into the race.

Beaumont didn't help himself when announcing Frenchman Bernard Laporte as his running mate, thereby forcing a wedge between himself and Pichot, his deputy on the world body.

Ever the politician Laporte is not the most popular man in the world game.

But Pichot has gone bold and seized his moment in a time when World Rugby is vulnerable.

He has outlined a six-point plan of revolution in the game, something that could appeal in the revised nature of the sport once the pandemic is contained.

Having seen his plans for the Nations Championship rejected last year, he has taken the lesson and amended the scope of his plan. It would be an annual tournament featuring the top 12 teams from both hemispheres.

"The Nations Championship is the starting point but we need more people at the table to discuss the proposal: clubs, players, unions, private equity.

"Things were blocked last year but I believe this virus will change people and change the way they do things. I think it could create a revolution in our game because you have to look again at the whole ecosystem," he said.

He wants a more democratic organisation and an end to the archaic voting system that embeds the power of the top tier nations while also introducing a revenue-sharing funding model.

He would encourage a greater concentration on grassroots and youth rugby with special focus on emerging nations.

Pichot would develop players' commissions, similar to the structure the International Olympic Committee employs and which was so strong in forcing their parent body to postpone the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. At the same time, he wants discussions to take place to reduce player wages to create sustainability in the game.

He wants a 'fit for purpose' organisation with a review of all internal structures to restore trust in the governing body.

Interestingly, Pichot has no running mate and has taken an independent stance.

"It is a critical time and a critical selection," he told the Daily Mail.

"I have a different vision of the game to Bill. I'm not saying mine is better than his and I don't have a bad word to say against him, but we think differently.

"Our sport has to adjust to the modern way. It's not about anarchy. It's about modern, equal, professional democracy. We need solidarity and certainty in times of crisis.

"The system does not trust World Rugby…that's the reality. We let politics get inside the organisation and that's not good. I have been a part of it and I should have pushed harder for a fairer system," he said.

Pichot sees the private equity company CVC has a key contributor to the required chance.

"They will want things organised to make more money. A critical situation will put you on a creative pathway to change things," he said.

Amazon Prime, Google or Netflix would be crucial players in creating more income over the next five years, he said.

"If you ask most business people how they run a company and how they spend their money, it's not being done in rugby. I'm not here to fly around the world, go to amazing places and have a good time. We need to look at expenditure and head counts," he said.

November Tests shaping as crucial for world rugby

World Rugby is facing difficult decisions resulting from the north-south split in seasons and the financial implications associated with a return to international rugby.

The immediate concern is with the potential loss of the July internationals in the southern hemisphere and the associated loss of revenue for the likes of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.

But then in the November window, there is the consideration of finishing the suspended Six Nations championship and ensuring the November tours by the southern hemisphere nations.

World Rugby president, Bill Beaumont said two options were to the forefront in their thinking but were not restricted solely to them.

One involved matches played in the northern hemisphere in November with 'an equitable sharing of revenues' (something long overdue) or possibly having Tests played in the southern hemisphere and then in the north.

The second option was seen as difficult due to restrictions of achieving a suitable time in the remainder of 2020.

"We are well aware of the financial situation in the south," Beaumont said.

"The southern federations need the tests of July, those of the north of those of November.

"But we must be united in this crisis. No one is going to make a profit during this time, everyone is going to suffer. I have full confidence in the ability of the federations to work together to find a solution. Even the northern nations will be impacted," he said.

Beaumont added that if no Tests were possible in November the situation would become 'very serious'.

"We have to wait for the situation to settle. We cannot predict an exact solution today. The Federations are going to need matches, but we must also think of the clubs that have seasons to end," he said.

The situation needed to remain under control, he warned.

"It shouldn't become the Wild West. If everyone has gold fever and runs after silver, we will not get there," he said.

Meanwhile, French Federation president Bernard Laporte said no decision would be made about postponing or cancelling the July tours until the end of April.

He added that director-general of World Rugby Brett Gosper had already said that individual unions in the southern hemisphere could not decide on the cancellations or postponement of tours.