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It's just like 'self-marking your homework': Stinging criticism for World Rugby governance review

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare chief executive Dan Leo has expressed concern over World Rugby’s governance review. Recently re-elected World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont announced the independent-led review on Wednesday, which had been promised by him in his election campaign. 

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The core objective is to analyse the effectiveness of the current governance model, focusing on these areas: Gender balance and diversity on World Rugby boards and committees; Player representation within World Rugby’s governance structures; Committee structure and reporting flows for effectiveness; Suitability, definition and naming of emerging nations/established nations groups; The format and frequency of council meetings to best serve the global game; The criteria for appointment of council members and the fit and proper person test for elected members.”

Former Samoa international Leo has been demanding answers from World Rugby ever since Fiji Rugby Union chairman Francis Kean stood down from the World Rugby council in April after allegations of homophobia and discrimination. 

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Responding to the announcement of the review, Leo said on Twitter that there was “no mention of criteria for who heads governing bodies”. 

While the Kean fiasco has forced World Rugby to investigate “the criteria for appointment of council members”, Leo has consistently questioned how union officials are chosen ever since Beaumont’s appointment and has underlined the urgency in which this needs to be addressed.

Kean, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2007, has remained chairman of the FRU, while his brother-in-law and Fijian Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, is the president of the FRU. Leo has lobbied World Rugby to look into this and feels this review is not enough. 

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Furthermore, Leo has questioned the entire process of the review, saying: “And correct me if I’m wrong but the way I read it, the working group are pretty much all the World Rugby council people so they’re investigating themselves?”

While the review will be chaired by British Olympic Committee chairman and former UK Sports Minister, Hugh Robertson, alongside “independent experts, players and representatives from emerging and established rugby nations”, the working group will also contain Beaumont, his vice-chairman Bernard Laporte and chief executive Brett Gosper. 

Some have said that this limits the effectiveness of the review, and Leo has likened it to self-marking homework at school. 

The review findings will be presented to the World Rugby council later this year and although there may be limitations to this review in the 37-year-old’s eyes, there is little chance that he will concede defeat.

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J
JW 40 minutes ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Certainly got lucky, their strike rate in recruits is simply to high to be another else. How many failures can you count off the top of you head?


Theyre no longer playing that attack structure, so kinda irrelevant I feel. Sexton's metronomic tempo was perfect for that sort of football though. I really shouldn't say anything disparaging about his ability and influence on a northern style as he's probably a much closer footballer to the great Dan Carter than the modern NZ tens are. Still feel the game is better off in the NH now that players like Smith and Ntamack are able to lead the way with their performances.


I suggest not falling into that trap of replacing someone. They don't need a Sexton at 10, that guy and influence can come from anywhere in the team. Wallace Sititi for example has done so much to flip the debate on the NZ midfielders needing to have Nonu/Smith level distribution. They're trying to transition their game into a fast contest, ala their two victories against SA, but also losing out on that against SA and England (possible NZ too). Nienaber being seen as more beneficial to that outcome than Lancaster. I too think they're wrong though, it was a gift Faz got provided with but I haven't seen the Irish psyche want to recognize that. Some might say it's disrespectful to credit all of Irelands success on the back of a fortuitous style of play they discovered (were gifted, w/e) but I'll tell anyone that that's all New Zealands success is based off, and if a more natural organically grown pressuring style it's still something that is ingrained on everyones instincts just the same and can easily be lost of not appreciated.

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