International games may be scrapped says Beaumont

Sir Bill Beaumont believes it is a “distinct possibility” the international rugby calendar could be scrapped this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beaumont, pictured, is chairman of World Rugby, which on Thursday announced it was providing an £80 million relief fund to aid national unions through the crisis.

The organisation is also exploring a way to return to playing and finishing the 2020 international calendar, but the current global uncertainty led Beaumont to concede it may not be possible to hold any more fixtures this year.

“That is a distinct possibility,” Beaumont told the Times. “The pressures on the unions are getting greater and greater.”

Beaumont is standing for re-election as chairman of World Rugby but will go up against vice-chairman Agustin Pichot in next month’s elections.

The former Grand Slamwinning England captain’s bid for a second fouryear term took a hit when former team-mate Sir Clive Woodward backed the exargentina skipper.

Woodward’s assertion that “rugby would benefit from being viewed throughtheeyesofaleader who is 45, not 68” rankled with Beaumont, who said: “What difference does the age make?

“Iplayedmyrugbyalways as an amateur. Does that mean I don’t understand the professional game?

“I am evolution, not revolution. I am bidding to show a lead to colleagues, take colleagues with me. I intend to be a leader. I think I have been in the past.”

Beaumont’s running partner Bernard Laporte last week floated the idea of a yearly Club World Cup, an idea which could be the death knell for the Heineken Champions Cup. However, Beaumont added: “It was a misunderstanding. What I can see is a Club World Championship, but not on an annual basis. That is the way we both look upon it.”