Agustin Pichot has accused Rugby Africa president Khaled Babbou of costing him the World Rugby chairmanship in an extraordinary personal attack.
“That betrayal occurred in the last days,” Pichot told TNT Sports. “You are going to know why I was betrayed, favours are being made on the edge of ethics. On our side you will not find any type of negotiation.
“You are going to know why I was betrayed, favours are being made on the edge of ethics. On our side you will not find any type of negotiation. It was done that way and for that reason we lost. I would not have done it in any other way." @danscho1 https://t.co/H0nyTUhJ6j
— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) May 23, 2020
“It was done that way and for that reason we lost. I would not have done it in any other way.
“We were 23-23 with 24 hours to go. Africa did what it did and we lost.”
“In the last week one of our group disappeared,” Pichot added.
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“It is May 21st and we are still looking for him. His name is Khaled Babbou. If anyone finds him, tell them. He came to my house, we got together in the US, in Europe. He was the most combative. We were going for the French revolution and suddenly he disappeared.
“One Saturday morning the South African calls me and says: ‘Did you call Khaled Babbou in the last 48 hours? Because it sounds a bit bad to me.’ I called him and he said: ‘Wait a minute, I’m calling you now.’ He said: ‘Rest easy’. And I never knew anything more.”
A World Rugby spokesperson responded: “The election was fairly contested by two excellent leadership candidates with clear visions for the sport. It would be inappropriate to comment on unsubstantiated speculation.”
These are the worst EVER signings by every Gallagher Premiership club
Here are THE WORST ever buys by current Gallagher Premiership clubs. Just don’t think about how much they cost…
Bath Rugby: Sam Burgess
What a corker to start off with. The rugby league superstar was signed for Bath Rugby on huge money, joining in October 2014.
His inclusion and performances at the Rugby World Cup were widely scrutinized, and seen by some pundits as partly to blame for England’s “humiliating” early pool stage exit from the tournament—the worst result for a host nation in the tournament’s history.
And following the disastrous campaign, Burgess quit rugby union after just 12 months, opting to return to South Sydney Rabbitohs, signing a three-year contract.
An absolute flop.
Bristol Bears: Tyrese Johnson-Fisher – Bristol Bears
More disappointing than bad.
The speedster, who went viral as a youngster for his four tries at Twickenham in the NatWest Schools Cup, joined Bristol last summer but left the Premiership side with immediate effect in February.
He’s since revealed he’s taken the decision to pursue other opportunities outside of professional rugby.
Exeter Chiefs: Nemani Nadolo
Signed for the club 11th Jan 2011 but was registered under his Aussie passport and therefore cost the club 2 points and £5000 for fielding too many overseas players.
He was then convicted of drink driving, banned from the road for 18 months, and released by the club in May 2011.
He failed to score a single try in his four appearances for the Chiefs. His career has done nothing but rise ever since so that’s nice.
