The IRB, on December 12 in Los Angeles, dumped Englishmen Beaumont and re-elected Bernard Lapasset from France. The Frenchman will be Chairman for another four year term. The voting was a close 14 to 12. The result is an indication that there is a shift from the powerful home unions towards France, SANZAR, Developing Nations and the Regions. This is a clear move away from the dominance of the home unions to a spread which requires the game to be taken worldwide. Now that rugby has been accepted as an Olympic Sport the need is to take the game to many quarters.

Bill Beaumont promised a change in the Commercial model and we saw the NZRU board backing Lapasset's opponent. Because they saw the Englishman as the man more likely to effect the changes they have been agitating for - most notably the way funds are raised and distributed by the global body.
Following the victory of Bernard, a North American proverb came to my mind; “You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince”. New Zealand Chief Executive Steve Tew talking in consolatory terms said that closeness of Bernard Lapasset's re-election proves a change is required at the International Rugby Board. Tew struck a conciliatory tone after the election results were confirmed. In September, during the Rugby World Cup, he chose to give an interview to an English newspaper in which he said the All Blacks might have to boycott the next global tournament in England as it was costing them too much.

The New Zealand All Blacks performing the Haka. New Zealand have backed Bernard Lapasset from France as Chairman of the IRB because rugby has been accepted as an Olympic sport.

South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins was elected vice-chairman ahead of Beaumont after securing Lapasset's casting vote following two rounds of voting which were tied. Somebody who voted for Lapasset did not vote for his Deputy. The elections were originally scheduled for October 19 - the latter stages of the World Cup - but were adjourned, partly in order to avert any controversy that could have tainted the tournament. This provided more opportunity for some intense lobbying.

It was not only the distribution of funds by the IRB, that was a sore point they were also not too happy the way the World Cup commercial rules protect the tournament's main sponsors to the detriment of teams' backers. Most other sports don’t have any conflict between official tournament sponsors and those companies who invest in the various teams. Rugby should be no different. The danger in shutting out individual team sponsors every fourth year is that some might walk away from the sport. Under Lappaset's term at the head of the IRB, he successfully guided rugby sevens bid to gain admission to the Olympic programme for Rio 2016. Beaumont, 59, the vice-chairman, want to focus on strengthening the top nations who generate the majority of the money rather than trying to broaden the sport's global appeal. That stance earned him the support of the Home Unions plus Australia and New Zealand, who believed that they will get to retain more of the money that the will be generated within the sport under the financial model favored by Beaumont.

"This is not about a battle between two men, but a different vision of rugby," said Lapasset.
Asia's decision at a meeting in Laos to elect Japan's Koji Tokumasu as its delegate showed which way Asia was heading for the election.Together with North America and probably the Caribbean Rugby Association they were able to decide on who should lead them.

One may not expect a major shift in challenging the top tier by the World Cup 2015. The minnows need help if they are to improve the prospects in 2015 and beyond. This will mean a cut in the funding of the big eight. They need exposure against Tier One sides if they are to improve. The IRB needs to enforce a new test schedule in addition to funding. This will have to include the aspiring sides – not leave them to the impulse of established nations who will never volunteer to play minnows, as they don’t make enough money.

The worry of the IRB should not be about mouth guards, hakas etc: it needs to inspire confidence that the people running the sport are visionaries and men with ideas, not pedants and small-minded types who, are obsessed with irrelevant detail. The driving that needs to be focused has been set by the Lappasset vs. Beaumont election at the top level.

The local rugby scene too is waiting at the junction while many are like the Cheshire Pus wondering where to go. When you don’t know where to go any road is fine. That is the time that stories are being woven starting with some has been who never had the patience once again digging dirt with the help of some who will always give a shovel. The Georgian Proverb, “The tall one wouldn't bend; the short one wouldn't stretch and the kiss was lost” is appropriate to be remembered if we are to move forward.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB.

Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees EvaluatorIRB