World Rugby

Fans rally behind Manu Tuilagi to vote him as world's best centre ahead of Welsh star

The Samoan-born 28-year-old claimed the victory with a comfortable winning margin of 62 percent on RugbyPass‘ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to determine the best player on the planet in each position.

Tuilagi and Davies were left as the last two players standing in the third and final round of the knockout bracket after having dispatched some household names in the prior two rounds.

World Rugby vote a chance for rethink - Pacific advocacy group

Fiji Rugby's Chairman Francis Kean's nomination for the World Rugby Executive Committee was hastily withdrawn on Tuesday following allegations of homophobia in the Sunday Times and a damning open letter to voting members from Pacific Rugby Players Welfare CEO Leo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

Fiji's Kean steps down during World Rugby investigation

Earlier World Rugby said it was investigating the claims against Francis Kean, who had been one of eight nominees for the seven positions on the influential Executive Committee.

The Sunday Times reported it had heard a recording of Kean while he was in charge of the Fiji prison service, in which the paper alleged homophobic language was used.

World Rugby said it noted the allegations and took them extremely seriously.

Pacific Rugby Player Welfare questions World Rugby

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.

World Rugby confirms election nominations

In accordance with the World Rugby Bye-Laws, member unions were invited to submit nominations for the position of World Rugby Chairman and/or Vice-Chairman by the closing date of 12 April, 2020. All nominations had to be proposed and seconded by a member union and/or Regional Association.

Pacific stresses caution on World Rugby promises

The incumbent Sir Bill Beaumont is standing for a second four-year term and had promised a major review of the way the governing body is run if re-elected, including a fresh look at eligibility rules which restrict players to representing one country for life.

He is being challenged by his deputy, former Argentina halfback Agustin Pichot, who has proposed a greater voice and more top-level matches for emerging nations, such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, and said the Covid-19 pandemic was an opportunity for the global realignment of the sport.

World Rugby unveils new high performance strategy for the Pacific Islands

Launched in 2018, 51 players have graduated from the high performance combines in the Pacific Islands of which 13 players were prepared for international rugby with Frank Lomani (Fiji) and James Faiva (Tonga) progressing to star at World Cup 2019 in Japan.

Concussion rates down at Rugby World Cup

The tournament in Japan was the first World Cup to introduce World Rugby's "high tackle framework" - the step-process of decisions referees must consider when analysing a potentially dangerous tackle - which is designed to reduce the risk of head injuries by "changing player behaviour from high-risk upright to lower risk bent-at-the-waist tackles".

In a statement World Rugby said there was a 28% reduction in the overall incidence of concussion and a 37% drop in tackle concussions at the tournament compared with the average figures from elite events two years ago.

World Rugby insist controversial changes to the Sevens format will not be revoked

The four pool winners in New Zealand and Australia will qualify automatically for the semi-finals.

South African media reports claim coaches and players are considering taking their grievances to the International Court of Sport Arbitration (CAS) to try and get the move overturned.

'We have to get rid of the entire [Australian] board and start again'

David Leckie, the former chief executive of the Seven Media Group, didn’t pull any punches in his assessment of the sport’s national body, with a particular focus on Castle.

“We have to get rid of the entire board and start again,” Leckie told the Australian. “There’s not a single person on it who deserves to remain there.

“Raelene has been a total disaster. She doesn’t know rugby, she doesn’t know Australia and, judging by her time at Canterbury (Bulldogs), she doesn’t know how to manage a salary cap.