Interview - The 'patronising' future of rugby that forced Agustin Pichot's hand
Like many of the world’s most influential people, leadership isn’t necessarily something that Agustín Pichot aspired to. Yes, he wanted to make a difference to the rugby world post his playing days, but he certainly never wanted to have his name in the lights.
But that’s the situation the former Argentina captain has found himself in as he mounts a bid to take over as the World Rugby chairman.
Pichot was initially brought into the World Rugby fold in 2016 and was quickly appointed as vice-chairman to Bill Beaumont, the man who he will now be going head-to-head with when the votes are cast in early May.
“When I started in 2016, I spoke to Bernard Lapasset – that was the chairman – and he brought me in,” Pichot told RugbyPass from his home in Argentina.
“He said ‘Gus, why don’t you run with me?’
“I said ‘Bernard, I think we should be more global. We should just look to work with probably a different leader.’”
So it came to be that Pichot and Beaumont teamed up, forging an alliance between the Northern Hemisphere (with Beaumont the former chairman of England’s Rugby Football Union) and the Southern Hemisphere.
Even prior to the coalition, Pichot knew that making any sizeable changes would be difficult, despite Beaumont’s relative progressiveness compared to the older guard.
“Bernard told me ‘you will never get it done’ and Pierre Camou, another French good friend of mine [and former president of the Fédération Française de Rugby] that passed away, unfortunately, he said to me ‘they will never change, they will never want a global game.’”
Still, Pichot helped push through several significant changes during the first two years of his tenure despite the obvious resistance from some of the game’s older stakeholders.
“The first two years were very good and things were going [well], I was pushing [hard],” Pichot said.
“We started to make some more reforms, more investment, be more critical on the management about deadlines, about budgeting – in a modern way, like you’d do a business.
“And then, about a year and a half ago, with the calendar that was proposed as a very important global goal that I pushed very hard, I started receiving some pushback because it was too much.”
The change that Pichot is talking about, of course, is the proposed Nations Championship – a competition that would see the top 24 teams in the world split into two divisions to compete annually for a trophy.
Promotion and relegation were key aspects of the pitch but there was considerable resistance both from within World Rugby and from some of the game’s stakeholders.
“For me, it was just a better tournament: yearly, inclusion of emerging nations, more money for the game, more money for investment in emerging nations, more money for investment in the women’s game – and it didn’t happen.”
That was effectively the last straw for Pichot – which is what has prompted the former halfback to throw his hat into the ring.
“It’s not that I wanted to be chairman, [but] I couldn’t carry on for four more years like that, I had to be true to myself,” Pichot said.
EXCLUSIVE
“It is nothing against Bill, Bernard or the current regime…" @Garygoldrugby is backing @AP9_ and he tells @chrisjonespress why ???https://t.co/TD1r8pb0o4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 19, 2020
Which has brought us to the current situation where Pichot is running on his own against Beaumont and his new vice-chairman elect, current FFR president Bernard Laporte.
Whatever unfolds, we’re going to witness one Hemisphere taking broader control – and Pichot is especially concerned at the Beaumont/Laporte combo, given England and France already have significant control over the global game purely due to the financial power held within those two nations.
“Two of the biggest economies in World Rugby leading the way. The powerful people get more power and the emerging nations get less power. [It’s] quite patronising, to be honest – and that’s what everyone felt,” said Pichot.
“Personally, I don’t like it. I come from a small country, rugby-wise. I’m a very proud Argentinian and that’s why I advocate for emerging nations because I truly believe that’s how Argentina grew and that’s how we became a powerful nation – or at least one of the 10 best nations in the world – because we received the vision and inclusion from South Africa first and from New Zealand and then from Australia.
“Nobody had a clear view of Argentina’s potential, nobody knew how much money Argentina would bring to the equation, but it was a good rugby decision.”
Pichot will be hoping that the decision-makers agree with his take on the current situation when the votes are cast at the World Rugby AGM on May 12th.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid 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?
11 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.
10 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.
11 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.
24 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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 comments