In a landmark decision, the World Rugby Council has elected Australian Brett Robinson as its new chairman, making him the first person from the southern hemisphere to hold the sport’s top governance position. Robinson defeated former France international Abdelatif Benazzi by two votes to succeed outgoing chair Sir Bill Beaumont, who served for eight years.
Who is Brett Robinson?
Brett Robinson brings a unique blend of elite rugby experience and academic credentials to the World Rugby chairmanship. The former Wallaby flanker earned 16 Test caps between 1996 and 1998 and captained the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby. However, his playing career was balanced with his pursuit of higher education.
Robinson holds a medical degree from the University of Queensland and later earned a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University, specializing in clinical orthopaedics. His passion for medicine and well-being has been a driving force throughout his life.
“My personal purpose when I was growing up was always to be concerned about people’s well-being. I have a deep stake in that.”
– Brett Robinson
After retiring from rugby, Robinson held executive roles with Rugby Australia and has also had a successful business career. This multifaceted background positions him well to tackle the diverse challenges facing World Rugby.
Key Priorities for World Rugby’s New Chair
Upon his election, Robinson outlined five key areas he intends to focus on as World Rugby chairman:
- Financial sustainability
- Growth of the game globally
- Enhancing fan engagement
- Prioritizing player welfare and safety
- Improving the governance culture at World Rugby
Rather than a revolutionary overhaul, Robinson seeks to refine and improve World Rugby’s existing strategies and initiatives. He favors pragmatic evolution over drastic upheaval.
Expanding Rugby’s Global Footprint
One of Robinson’s top priorities is to grow the game by taking it to new markets. He played a key role in the decision to award the 2031 Rugby World Cup to the United States, seeing it as a major opportunity to expand rugby’s reach and commercial potential.
Robinson is also a strong advocate for the proposed Nations Championship, a new global tournament set to launch in 2026. He believes this competition can drive revenue growth and broaden rugby’s appeal, and was disappointed when an earlier iteration failed to gain approval in 2019.
“It was one of the most disappointing moments for me that we missed that opportunity [with the Nations Championship]… I don’t want to see us miss it again — because we can’t afford to.”
– Brett Robinson
Alongside targeting new geographic markets, Robinson sees the continued growth of women’s rugby as essential. He hopes the 2025 women’s Rugby World Cup in England will be the biggest and most impactful edition yet.
Tackling Rugby’s Financial Challenges
The precarious financial state of the game is perhaps the most pressing issue facing Robinson as he takes the reins at World Rugby. He has bluntly described the financial status of rugby’s top unions as “if not creaking, completely busted.”
In recent years, clubs in major rugby nations have folded under financial strain, including London Wasps, Worcester, and London Irish in England, as well as the Melbourne Rebels in Australia. Robinson is determined to agitate for change to put the game on a more sustainable financial footing.
“I’m quite humbled to be asked to step into the chair, but I’m impatient…you’ve got to try and work within to drive change. So it’s about working out how you agitate, but coalesce and shift everyone together.”
– Brett Robinson
Enhancing the On-Field Product
While financial concerns dominate, Robinson also understands the importance of improving rugby’s on-field product to attract new fans, especially younger audiences. Frequent law changes and convoluted rules can make the sport confusing and inaccessible for casual viewers.
Recent initiatives trialed during the November internationals, such as shot clocks for scrums and lineouts and 20-minute red cards, aim to speed up the game. But Robinson acknowledges more must be done to enhance rugby’s entertainment value and broaden its appeal.
Rugby faces stiff competition from other sports and leisure activities in its traditional heartlands. In Australia, it battles the NRL and AFL for attention, while in England, it perpetually strives to be a strong number two behind football. Creative solutions will be needed to keep rugby relevant.
Player Welfare Remains Paramount
As a medical doctor, Brett Robinson is acutely aware of the need to prioritize player welfare, especially regarding concussions and brain injuries. While he believes rugby is moving in the right direction, with initiatives like instrumented mouthguards to measure contact impact, he stresses there is no room for complacency.
Under Robinson’s leadership, expect World Rugby to continue investing heavily in research and protocols to better prevent, diagnose, and manage concussions and other injuries. Protecting players will be a non-negotiable priority.
A Steady Hand on the Tiller
Brett Robinson assumes the World Rugby chairmanship at a pivotal juncture for the sport. While he inherits weighty challenges, his diverse background and pragmatic approach make him well-suited to plot a course through the storm.
Rather than promising a radical revolution, Robinson prefers targeted, strategic evolution to address rugby’s most pressing issues. His priorities of financial sustainability, global growth, fan engagement, player welfare, and governance culture set a clear agenda.
As the first World Rugby chair from the southern hemisphere, Robinson also brings a fresh perspective that may help bridge traditional divides in the game. His election by a narrow margin highlights the delicate balance he must strike.
With Brett Robinson at the helm, World Rugby has a steady hand on the tiller as it navigates the turbulent waters ahead. While he may not have all the answers yet, his commitment to asking the right questions and agitating for necessary change offers hope for a brighter future for rugby globally.
