The former captain of the XV of France Abdelatif Benazzi, candidate for the presidency of World Rugby, wants to shake up the “conservatism” of the institution in “opening it” to more countries and giving France a central place again, he explained in an interview with AFP.
World rugby, meeting in Dublin from Tuesday, elects its president for four years on Thursday. In addition to Benazzi, Australian Brett Robinson and Italian Andrea Rinaldo are in the running.
Question: How do you think world rugby is going?
Answer: “Very bad. You can get the impression during World Cups that it’s a global sport. In fact, this only concerns a few major countries, present for 100 years, while few countries are emerging. And at the same time, these major countries are in financial difficulty, most having operating deficits of more than 10 million euros. There is an alert, the boat risks sinking. »
Q: What can be done to resolve economic difficulties?
R: “We should not wait for a profitable competition like the World Cup once every four years. The summer and fall tours are a bit outdated and are less profitable for nations, especially those in the South. The Nations Cup from 2026 (which must be organized every two years with the best teams from the northern and southern hemispheres, editor’s note) will be an innovative competition (…). We need to think about a much more open strategy. To attract investors, we must demonstrate clarity in governance, transparency and above all openness to the world (…) invest in regions or a few countries even if it means receiving dividends in a few years. »
Abdelatif Benazzi in action with France against Scotland during the World Cup in Pretoria on June 3, 1995 in South Africa / Jean-Pierre MULLER / AFP/Archives
Q: In which countries exactly?
R: “Today 11 countries represent 70% of the voting rights in World Rugby, this contributes to conservatism. Some countries like Spain and Portugal do not have the right to discussion. They suffer. We tell them every four years +You are here to qualify for the World Cup+, but between World Cups, we do nothing (…). I don’t understand why we are hesitant with Africa, which will represent 40% of humanity in the future (in 2100 according to a UN report, editor’s note). Conversely, we cannot put a quarter of the budget in North America, with the World Cup in the United States in 2031, to the detriment of other regions. »
Q: And France?
R: “Everyone says to us, ‘Did you see what you did at the World Cup? You are a great country+. We opened our doors in Marcoussis, we shared our values, our model is envied by many. We are pushed to make decisions, to be within this mandate (…). We need to review current governance. Even France, which is a major country, is excluded from certain decisions. We are on the World Rugby council but we are not in the executive office, but we have the impression that decisions are made there. I would like to give more power to the council. »
Q: What is your position regarding the 20-minute red card, which can also be generalized in the event of a favorable vote on Thursday?
R: “A red card is a red card, there should be no confusion. This can be a dangerous strategy for rugby, much more violent and that’s why we are completely against it. »
Q: Will you come back to this if you are elected and this problem becomes widespread?
R: “I prefer to say that it will not pass. And if it passes, I remind you that it’s an experiment. We will see in a few years, this will be an opportunity to take stock. »
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