Simply up the highway from the Arc de Triomphe, in a non-public membership for members of the Gallic rugby institution, Abdelatif Benazzi is multi-tasking, with commendable diplomacy and persistence.

The previous Grand Slam-winning captain of France is attempting to eat his lunch, earlier than it goes chilly, whereas conducting an interview with Mail Sport, in his third language – and fielding a collection of calls from the president of South Africa‘s rugby union. Mark Alexander and his delegation are scheduled for the following assembly in Benazzi’s hectic schedule, by way of video hyperlink.

The 56-year-old’s diary is busy for a great purpose. He’s standing for election as the following chairman of World Rugby. His purpose is to be voted in because the successor to a different ex-lock and Check skipper, Sir Invoice Beaumont, when the poll takes place subsequent month. Benazzi is up in opposition to a one-time, on-field adversary, Brett Robinson, who received 16 caps as a Wallabies flanker within the 90s.

Because the unique front-runner for the distinguished publish, John Jeffrey, aborted his marketing campaign final month – having grow to be the sufferer of Scottish rugby in-fighting – the Australian has been extensively thought of the brand new favorite. So, Benazzi has loads of work to do, to unfold the phrase about his reforming mission, and persuade the king-makers to again him.

Earlier than pressing motion may be taken, there needs to be an acceptance that the game is in a grave state. The vice-president of the French federation (FFR) doesn’t sugar-coat it, saying: ‘We’re not soccer. We don’t have 150 unions; we simply have 11 or 12 – and everyone seems to be struggling. They’re alone with their issues, however they’ve given me the chance to work on a challenge to unite everybody. Rugby is in bother and if we do not unite, we’ll die.’

He tells Mail Sport that struggling unions ‘have given me the chance to work on a challenge to unite everybody’

His purpose is to be voted in because the successor to a different ex-lock and Check skipper, Sir Invoice Beaumont (pictured)

So, for the following chairman, is all of it simply concerning the backside line of revenue and loss? ‘The large, conventional nations need to know the technique to extend cash for them, as a result of they’ve large stress about that,’ added Benazzi. ‘However it isn’t solely this. We additionally speak concerning the well being and security of gamers, and the vast majority of the nations and areas help me to search for new governance.’

Looking for votes on a unification ticket comes throughout as a logical plan, however it’s asking rugby officers to vary the habits of a lifetime. As Benazzi defined, the established order includes totally different unions and organisations appearing in isolation in an unseemly scramble for funds and followers. His message to the 53 council members who will vote is that a complete new mind-set is required to galvanise the game.

‘Till now, everybody fights alone for broadcast rights and sponsorship,’ he stated. ‘However that’s the outdated mannequin and it’s time to transfer on. It isn’t a revolution, however we want a brand new technique, with one voice.’

One voice, however not one language. Benazzi hopes to face as a logo of oval-ball range, having grown up in Morocco and represented his residence nation earlier than blazing a path in France – occurring to win 78 caps and two Grand Slams as captain of his adopted nation. Rugby has nonetheless not shaken off its slender, post-colonial tradition after practically 30 years of professionalism. Maybe that is the person to supervise very important development and growth.

‘I do not need this to be a conservative sport that solely involves English-speaking (international locations),’ he stated. ‘That’s the reason my manifesto has been translated into six totally different languages; Japanese, Arabic, the whole lot. We’d like that.

‘Now, the (rugby) world remains to be small. Now we have a protectionist intuition. It’s Anglo-Saxon. Conservative. Modestly, I feel I can signify a unique future. The game gave me the dream to check in France, then to play for Agen, to play for France, to play for Saracens, to expertise a lot.

‘I really feel rugby may be like that and it could develop. I’ve that in my coronary heart as a result of I’ve lived it. Lots of federations have inspired me to do that. They stated, ‘Perhaps you appear to be an envoy for these new concepts’.’

Benazzi sees so many potential for progress, not least in Europe – away from the standard hot-beds of the sport. Having had talks with officers from outdoors the cosy elite, he stated: ‘Nations like Spain and Georgia have large frustration. They are saying that they’ve made lots of effort, however really feel like we do not settle for them. So how can we do this?

Benazzi sees so many potential for progress, not least in Europe – away from the standard hot-beds of the sport

Worldwide groups resembling Georgia really feel they don’t seem to be accepted – and Benazzi desires to vary that

‘Some large, historic international locations don’t desire this. Perhaps they’re afraid that they may lose their place if some new nations are coming. However now’s the time to vary that mentality. If we spend money on these nations for 5 or 6 years, we might have extra worldwide competitors and extra sponsors.’

Requested particularly about Georgia’s thwarted ambitions, Benazzi stated: ‘I do not need to lose this nation as a result of they’ve made lots of effort and they don’t seem to be removed from the highest. They’ve proved that they’ve the power to beat the large nations. It is a job for the system, to offer them the video games.’

There’s additionally a golden alternative to faucet into main curiosity within the Iberian peninsula, which the person who covets probably the most senior administrative function within the sport is conscious of and heartened by. ‘It is vitally fascinating to take heed to the Spanish,’ he stated. ‘They speak concerning the future and so they need to be concerned. They even need to host the World Cup. That is superb. It’s optimistic.’

One of many major points going through rugby on this continent is that its biggest showcase can also be a serious barrier to growth; the Six Nations. Annually, it’s a business success and a marquee occasion which captures the creativeness of a large viewers within the competing international locations. However it’s also a closed store, which gives no hope for upwardly-mobile European groups resembling Georgia. It’s a personal celebration and outsiders aren’t welcome. The chosen ones need it to remain precisely how it’s.

Benazzi could also be dedicated to reform and growth, however even he would not really feel it’s proper to rock this explicit boat, saying: ‘It’s a particular competitors. Even South Africa wished to do it (be part of). I do not need to discuss improvement and alternatives for different nations, however take a danger by opening up the Six Nations.’

Subsequent month, the election will happen, primarily based on a voting system closely weighted in favour of the institution. Every of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship international locations have three votes, that means they management 30 of the 53 votes. The remainder of the game mixed – all the opposite unions and areas – wield a collective tally of simply 23 votes. By any affordable measure, it’s wildly unfair and the French candidate desires to shake it up.

‘If I’ve the prospect to be the chairman, my first motion can be to have a governance audit, to learn the way we may give extra alternatives to new international locations like Spain, to have a voice,’ he stated. ‘I need to take heed to everybody and respect everybody; in South America, in Asia. They need to be concerned.’

Nevertheless, there isn’t a escaping the truth that the over-riding precedence for many of these within the corridors of energy is extra monetary stability and prosperity. Benazzi accepts that he cannot drive change and progress if the books aren’t balanced first. Tapping into the growth potential of girls’s rugby and Sevens, he desires the worldwide governing physique to assist the main nations, who will then be anticipated to assist encourage improvement elsewhere.

The over-riding precedence for many of these within the corridors of energy is extra monetary stability and prosperity

Benazzi is optimistic that the brand new Nations Championship can have a optimistic impression on the worldwide recreation

‘If the large unions really feel comfy with their budgets, perhaps they will help different international locations,’ he stated. ‘Each sponsor will consider within the initiatives in the event that they see that large nations are formidable for one thing to develop; for humanity – for the children. If we would like improvement, first we have now to guarantee that the large nations have a cushty state of affairs, so they don’t seem to be dropping cash.’

Benazzi is optimistic that the brand new Nations Championship – which is because of launch in 2026 – can have a optimistic impression on the worldwide recreation, rather than the ‘outdated’ touring system. He’s open-minded about finally taking some fixtures to Qatar, within the perception that the Arab state has improved its report on human rights, however accepts that rugby has to ‘shield our values’. He would even welcome a bid by Saudi Arabia to host a future World Cup.

The 2031 event has been awarded to the USA and regardless of misgivings on the a part of sure unions, World Rugby are dedicated to that enterprise into a brand new frontier. Benazzi stated: ‘Now we have to deal with a territory the place we will develop cash. America – perhaps we will do it with the TV rights. Perhaps. However we have now to have a look at the dates. That is essential to the unions.

‘Now we have to maintain the World Cup in September and October – not transfer it to June and July. America has requested us about that as a result of they produce other video games (NFL). However it’s a good alternative there. Perhaps they given us extra sponsorship and extra individuals who need to spend money on rugby.’

There’s a lot on the agenda for these operating the game, which suggests Benazzi is placing himself ahead for a posh task. To achieve success within the election, he should deal with the kind of political horse-trading which has lengthy been a blight on the rugby panorama and, sadly, has not apparently improved through the skilled period.

In these elements, there are divided loyalties, it appears. ‘With the Six Nations, it’s shocking,’ he stated. ‘We agree on some selections, however not on technique for World Rugby. If England help Australia – Brett Robinson – for the election, I do not know why. Which connection have they got? Is it simply historic or concerning the Commonwealth? Or perhaps as a result of Jonathan Webb (RFU council member) is taking a look at being the following chairman?

‘It’s regular, it’s politics. However I’m afraid about it, if a rustic like that do not need to open the doorways and provides a chance for the opposite areas.’

He’s hopeful about his prospects in Dublin on November 14, saying he feels ‘extra assured day after day’

Regardless of how unstable and cut-throat the method is certain to be, Benazzi is hopeful about his prospects on November 14 in Dublin. ‘Day after day, I really feel extra assured due to what I hear from unions and areas,’ he stated. ‘They want a brand new mannequin. I’ve lots of help.’

The sport definitely wants to vary, solid off its English-speaking, old-school-tie, jobs-for-the-boys tradition and reap the benefits of its various progress potential. An imposing, passionate, African-French diplomat and visionary is perhaps simply who rugby wants on the helm.