PRPW issues damning 59-page dossier urging review of Bill Beaumont's World Rugby re-election
A review into Bill Beaumont’s re-election as World Rugby chairman in May has been called for after Pacific Rugby Players Welfare alleged in a stinging 59-page dossier submitted to the sport’s global governing body on Wednesday that World Rugby’s governance was “glaringly deficient”.
The Veilomani Report, named after the Fijian term for loving one another, claimed World Rugby were in breach of its own bye-laws and International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations. World Rugby said that Beaumont’s re-election was “fairly contested”, with the global bosses “pressing hard for change” in Fiji.
Fiji Rugby Union (RFU) chairman Francis Kean had supported Beaumont’s re-election for the chairmanship but was stood down from the World Rugby council after it emerged he had been previously convicted of manslaughter.
Beaumont announced plans for a “wide-ranging governance review” in January that is now being led by Hugh Robertson, but PRPW chief executive Dan Leo has challenged World Rugby to lift the lid on that process. “We believe this year’s World Rugby elections should be reviewed in full,” Leo told the PA news agency.
“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 France had supported Kean’s nomination to World Rugby’s executive committee, though his candidacy was later withdrawn.
Pacific Rugby Players Welfare today publishes the Veilomani Report, our recommendations to end glaring deficiencies in World Rugby’s governance.https://t.co/a7k08UFaC3
— PacificRugbyWelfare (@pacificwelfare) July 22, 2020
“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.”
Rugby sevens’ place in the Olympic movement could be under threat should World Rugby be found to be in breach of the IOC code.
“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,” alleged the PRPW report. When compared with other major international sports federations, World Rugby’s governance is glaringly deficient.”
Former Samoa, Wasps and London Irish lock Leo revealed PRPW has written to World Rugby three times in as many months, offering evidence gathered by the organisation into alleged wrongdoing by Kean in Fiji. Leo said PRPW has taken the bold step of sending their extensive dossier of recommendations for change directly to Robertson, the current British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman and former UK sports minister.
The Veilomani Report outlines 32 recommendations, including a range of measures to stamp out misconduct in the Pacific Islands. “One of the reasons why we’re so frustrated is we’ve written three letters to World Rugby and have received no response at all,” said Leo.
“We have witness testimony we are hoping to pass along, but we are yet to be given the chance. People have come to us and trusted us with that, but we haven’t been able to pass that forward.
“The only way things will change is if independent organisations who don’t have any conflict of interests over funding are allowed to come to the table and make these submissions, and actually have them taken seriously, and not just be ignored.
“Since we have operated outside of their funding we have been totally frozen out and left in the cold. We can’t just send these reports and letters through without making them public, because if we do, they won’t be acknowledged. It’s really important for the Pacific Islands, but also for every Tier Two nation, that these issues are taken seriously, addressed and rectified.
“Obviously rugby operates in a capitalist world, but it’s got to operate with a conscience as well. That’s not too much to ask, particularly in a sport that prides itself on values such as teamwork, respect and integrity. This report we believe shows those values are not universal in the sport.”
World Rugby has insisted that investigations continue into the Kean affair, while also standing behind the process by which Beaumont was re-elected as chairman. “The World Rugby chairperson election was fairly contested by two excellent leadership candidates with clear visions for the sport,” a World Rugby spokesperson told the PA news agency.
“World Rugby has been pressing hard for change in the Fiji Rugby Union, whilst enquiries have been ongoing into wide-ranging allegations of misconduct.”
Kean was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in December 2006. The brother-in-law of Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama, Kean is also subject to a host of human rights abuse allegations.
Jones says there are 'clear grounds' for 'expelling Fiji from the sport'https://t.co/s2UQhsECki
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 19, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
5 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
21 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to comments