He's a long shot but Pichot could be just what rugby needs - Andy Goode
He may be a long shot but rugby needs modernising and Agustin Pichot being at the helm could be just what the game needs. With the result of the election for World Rugby chairman due to be announced on May 12, the Argentine is a late entrant in a contest that is often a one-horse race, but the coronavirus has shown us how much work we have to do as a sport and a fresh take is needed.
Of course, all sports and almost all industries are suffering to some extent at the moment but it hasn’t taken long for many clubs and unions to be brought to the brink of bankruptcy and there is no doubt rugby isn’t yet the global sport we should all want it to be.
Bill Beaumont is a legend in English rugby and has done a decent job over the past four years by all accounts. It’s also unfair to characterise him as some sort of dinosaur as he is also advocating change, but Pichot certainly looks like he would shake things up more.
There is one note of caution in that we have seen what too much change too often has resulted in over in the southern hemisphere and we don’t want to fall into that trap, but it’s time for more radical change in rugby and it’s time for action.
Financially, some of the bigger unions in the game are currently getting an insight into the kind of struggles that the smaller unions have had over the years. Revenue sharing isn’t ever going to be equal between all countries but it should be fairer than it is.
“Too many rugby games have been a waste of time and money, highlighting the need for better products if the sport is to really crack the video games market,” writes @CameronJDPetrie in the wake of Agustin Pichot’s comments earlier this week https://t.co/FLcvkcI26P
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2020
The efforts to nail down a global calendar surely now have to bear more fruit regardless of who wins the election and both candidates are keen on reviving the Nations Championship idea that was shot down in flames last year.
How that looks may be different depending on who wins, though, with Beaumont confirming that promotion and relegation from the Six Nations isn’t on the table.
At the moment without a global season, it’s almost impossible to fit in playoff games to decide on potential promotion and relegation from the Six Nations but that is something that should be resolved now and it’s necessary to grow the game.
Pichot has also mentioned as part of his manifesto the need to create a new computer game. Many will look at that as a gimmick or certainly will have done at first glance but it is anything but.
The world of esports is massive nowadays and extremely lucrative but, more importantly, a game at a similar level to FIFA in football or Madden in American football could bring in hordes of younger fans and that is something rugby badly needs.
The voting system itself is one thing that needs changing and that is likely to be Pichot’s main barrier in this race. The Six Nations and Rugby Championship unions all have three votes each out of a total of 51 and the majority are likely to opt for Beaumont.
To some extent, the bigger unions voting for Pichot could be likened to turkeys voting for Christmas but some, especially in the southern hemisphere, may have less to lose now and take a broader view or see it as necessary for the good of the game.
The likes of England, France, Italy, Fiji and Romania are already in Beaumont’s corner so it’s going to be an uphill battle for the ex-Argentina scrum-half – and it isn’t just the tier one nations voting for the Englishman.
Whoever takes the helm as World Rugby's next chairman will rely heavily on a select few nations.https://t.co/tOVjcFL9uV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 18, 2020
I’m not advocating a system where each country gets one vote but it shouldn’t be the case that if the Six Nations and the main SANZAAR unions vote the same way, they win every time.
I’d love to see Pichot given an opportunity to modernise the sport and bring about real change… but with the understanding that making too many sweeping changes too quickly can have an adverse effect.
There wasn’t a vice-chairman nominated alongside Pichot so if he needs someone to keep him in check and come up with a few more policy ideas such as mandatory gloves and red cycling shorts for all players, I’m just a phone call or a tweet away!
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments