Rugby boss comes out swinging
Agustin Pichot defends his actions behind the much maligned proposal to launch a World League. Mick Cleary reports.
Agustin Pichot, the vicechairman of World Rugby, has reacted angrily to claims that he would exclude the Pacific Island countries or any other aspiring nation from the World League project that he has masterminded.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Pichot was also at pains to set the record straight on a number of other issues, notably that player welfare remains a central concern in any new format, that the French and English clubs be involved in negotiations to help that happen, that if the gap between tier one and tier two countries is not closed then those players will take their labour to the more established nations and, finally, that there is no conflict of interest with him being on the board of USA Rugby, one of those countries that was (wrongly) projected as being guaranteed a place in the World League for a ringfenced 12-strong league.
‘‘I am not paid a penny to be on the USA board and take only expenses from World Rugby for my travel,’’ Pichot said from Las Vegas, where he is attending a USA board meeting prior to the sevens tournament in the city.
‘‘I would never support a project without promotion and relegation,’’ Pichot said. ‘‘I would always go against any form of ring-fencing. It looks as if it is us who are trying to close the door, but that is simply not true. The Six Nations may have a different view about the merits of promotion and relegation, but I am 100 per cent for it. That has been clear from day one. My whole objective is to support these countries.’’
The proposed tournament would not be ring-fenced, giving Fiji and the other Pacific Island teams a chance to earn a spot.
‘‘If Argentina were one day to be relegated it would be because they are not good enough. That is sport. Someone will be in their place and that is the way it should be. That is why I was so annoyed it was portrayed differently.
‘‘It is not just Fiji, Samoa or Tonga. I say to people – do you think I can try to do rugby business around the world and face Brazil or Georgia or Romania and speak to them with one face and then propose to shut them out with another face, urging them to invest and to try to grow the sport for the future and then deny them that future?
‘‘How can I say to Fiji, bad luck guys, you are sidelined for the next 12 years. Bye-bye. Do you think I am that stupid to be like this or that dishonest? What is the gain for me to say, ‘tough luck for the rest of you, now, f..k off’. No, this is not who I am or how I am. I will walk away if this does not happen in the way that it should. I have no reason to be involved except to try and make this come about. I just want the game to grow. Full stop. That is it.’’
There has been much critical heat directed Pichot’s way for his supposed gerrymandering of the league with aspersions cast given his place on the USA board.
An article that appeared in New Zealand on Thursday stated that the USA and Japan would make up the southern hemisphere six-team contingent for the putative 12-team World League. Pichot acknowledged that many scenarios involving different combinations had been put forward for discussion only. ‘‘A lot of options were drawn up because that is how you present a business case,’’ said Pichot.
‘‘But I would simply not push for USA’s inclusion unless it was on merit. I have no time for vested interests. I have no commercial benefit from being on the USA board.’’
When players such as Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell and Kieran Read were moved to speak out about their concerns over player welfare, emphasising the burden of five tests in five weekends in November if the World League came into being, Pichot recognised a familiar tone of protest as he used to be that sort of shop-steward figure.
‘‘Correct, and the player view is key,’’ said Pichot. ‘‘We must not exhaust them. But you have to consider the growth of the game. We must involve clubs in discussions to help shape a final agreement with proper rest and proper matches.’’
Pichot rejects the notion that a biennial World League championship would undermine the World Cup, held every four years.
‘‘I disagree as there will be plenty of change in a 12-team World League format if there is promotion and relegation,’’ said Pichot. ‘‘The World Cup will still be distinctive.’’
There is an executive meeting of World Rugby scheduled for March 15 in Dublin, with a view to weighing up all these considerations ahead of a full council meeting in May. It will be a full agenda.
THE TELEGRAPH, LONDON