Posted by K. D. November 15, 2024
The election for the presidency of World Rugby came down to the wire: the Australian Brett Robinson was elected with a tiny lead of two votes against the French Abdelatif Benazzi.
This ballot with twists and turns, which ended this Thursday in Dublin, saw the former Australian international win with 27 votes against 25 for his direct competitor.
The victory of Robinson thus marks the arrival in power of a representative of the southern hemisphere, succeeding Bill Beaumont.
The candidates' journey
Abdelatif Benazzisupported by the current president of the FFR, Florian Grill, presented his candidacy in September. Despite his late entry into the race, he was able to pose as a serious challenger, winning 21 votes in the first round.
He will ultimately only need two additional votes to pass Robinson in the second round. The task promised to be difficult with Robinson having been a member of the World Rugby Council for eight years, already engaged in an active campaign and supported by the outgoing administration.
Shared reactions and an uncertain future
The election of Robinson arouses mixed feelings, between disappointment of those who hoped to see a Frenchman at the head of World Rugby and apprehensions about the future of French rugby.
The outcome of this close election highlights the division within international bodies and highlights the expectations of the rugby world regarding the direction the sport will take under the new presidency.
Florian Grillpresident of the FFR, congratulated Benazzi for his campaign and the ideas put forward, even if the result was not in favor of the French candidate.
The mandate of Brett Robinson will extend over four years. His speech, which was an alarmist observation on the state of rugby, highlighted the need to connect the sport to younger generations and to resolve the financial concerns affecting the major rugby nations.
The new president will have the difficult task of implementing these changes, aimed at making the game faster and more attractive.
A bitter end to the campaign for Benazzi
Pour Benazzi, this narrow defeat puts an end to a daring campaign carried out in the spirit of rugby values.
Despite his late involvement, his candidacy proved that the competition for the World Rugby presidency was far from a pre-charted path, revealing the political dynamics at the heart of the organization.
His journey nevertheless encourages debate within World Rugby, illustrating that every voice counts and that the future of rugby will be built on solid foundations and constructive exchanges.
Behind the scenes of this election, the end of a cycle is looming and with it, the hopes of one day seeing a new Frenchman direct the destiny of world rugby.
For the moment, a new page is opening for World Rugby, with a president at the helm determined to address crucial issues in a constantly evolving sport.
Photo: Icon Sport
