Bill Beaumont has responded after Sir Clive Woodward highlighted the 23-year age difference in his Sportsmail column backing Agustin Pichot’s bid.
“Tell Clive I’m still alive and kicking,” quipped the former England captain.
World Rugby chairman @BillBeaumont is standing for re-election and tells @owenslot why he is the right man to lead the sport into a new era https://t.co/MvjCSnhciS
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) April 16, 2020
“I can’t help the fact that I’m English, I can’t help what age I am and I can’t help that I played all my rugby during the amateur days,
“I make no apology for that, but one thing I will tell you is that no one has more passion or enthusiasm than me. I’m a proud Englishman but I have a global view of the game… not an English view of the game.’
SIR BILL BEAUMONT’S FIVE-POINT MANIFESTO
- Governance reform that is not seen to support the ‘old guard’, including a pledge to review ‘regulation eight’ which could allow the likes of England stars Manu Tuilagi and Billy Vunipola to represent Samoa and Tonga.
- A global season review, with proposals for a two-month Test window in September/October/November, shifting the Lions tour to later in the year.
- A financial policy review to help developed and developing nations, stating a long-term ideal of hosting a World Cup final at the Maracana Stadium in Brazil.
- An increased focus on player welfare, but also a desire to make the game more open by reducing the number of substitutes
- Development of women’s rugby with a global season and more decision-making power.
LIST | 5 of the biggest scandals in rugby history!
Rugby Union has had its fair share of controversial moments down the years. Here we look at five of the most memorable...
1. KAMP STAALDRAAD
It was a military-style “boot camp” organized as a “team building” exercise for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks (or Boks), during their preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Details of the camp emerged in the South African media, resulting in protest from the upper administrative levels of South African rugby.
- The team was ordered to climb into a foxhole naked and sing the national anthem while ice-cold water were being poured over their heads. During their time in the hole, recordings of God Save the Queen (used as England‘s national anthem) and the New Zealand All Blacks haka were played at full volume.
- It was confirmed that firearms were present at the camp, although reports varied as to whether they were ever pointed at anyone.
- The players were forced to crawl naked across gravel.
- They also were ordered to spend a night in the bush, during which they were to kill and cook chickens, but not eat them.