Pacific Rugby Players Welfare

The pool phase will be extended by a week, ensuring teams will have at least five days to prepare for all matches, while squad sizes will be increased from 31 to 33 players.

PRPW said that since 2003 the scheduling of Rugby World Cup matches has "brazenly prejudiced Tier 2 nations" and said the latest reforms are long overdue.

"This is a significant step towards a tournament that fully respects the ideals of fair play, and it will make a great difference to the Pacific Island teams," said former Manu Samoa international and PRPW CEO Dan Leo.

The organisation is led by former Manu Samoa player, Dan Leo.

Among the new members are former All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Anthony Tuitavake and Seta Tamanivalu.

There are also two current All Blacks both from the Wellington Hurricanes – Centre, Ngani Laumape and Flanker, Ardie Savea.

From the Major League Rugby Competition in USA are Andrew Durutalo and Shalom Suniula.

Fijian internationals Jim Nagusa, John Matavesi, Ilikena Bolakora and Tongan international Nasi Manu have also joined the board.

Hurricanes team-mate Ngani Laumape has also jumped on board, alongside two time World Cup winner Jerome Kaino, Anthony Tuitavake and Seta Tamanivalu.

The Managing Director of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, former Manu Samoa fullback Mike Umaga, said it was "The Island Way" to help out and give back to your community.

"Ardie saw the work we'd been doing and he is a very proud Samoan and reached out to Dan [Leo, PRPW CEO] and asked if there was anything he could do.

Fiji Rugby's Chairman Francis Kean's nomination for the World Rugby Executive Committee was hastily withdrawn on Tuesday following allegations of homophobia in the Sunday Times and a damning open letter to voting members from Pacific Rugby Players Welfare CEO Leo detailing Kean's political and legal history in Fiji.

The former Navy Commander Kean, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2007, also stood down from the World Rugby Council, with Fiji's seat taken by CEO John O'Connor.

In a letter penned on behalf of PRPW, Leo has asked ‘why does World Rugby have some of the most elaborate and exhaustive eligibility checks for those who play the game but apparently no checks for someone wanting to run the game?’

Kean, whose name was put forward by the Fiji Rugby Union and whose nomination was seconded by the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), was convicted of manslaughter in 2006 – but Leo explains that his crimes and conduct are far worse than initially reported.