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10 WORLD RUGBY YEAR IN REVIEW 2015ENGAGING THE RUGBY FAMILY | NEWSWIDE-RANGING AND HISTORIC GOVERNANCE REFORM SET TO DRIVE GAME GROWTHABOVEGeorgia’s Lasha Malaghuradze attempts a drop goal against NamibiaBELOWRomania and France contest a scrum during RWC 2015In November World Rugby announced a wide-ranging programme of governance reform that will deliver the blueprint for the future growth and prosperity of rugby worldwide.With rugby experiencing record participation and engagement growth and Rugby World Cup 2015 hailed the biggest and best tournament to date, a very special year ended fittingly with World Rugby announcing a wide-ranging and forward-thinking programme of governance reform that will guide the continued growth of the game on all fronts.The package of reform is designed to create a more dynamic and representative decision-making environment, recognising the enormous contribution that member unions and regional associations make to the continued projection and protection of the sport worldwide. REVISIONS TO COUNCILSubject to meeting dedicated governance criteria (see www.worldrugby.org/news/122987), Council voting rights expanded to include unions who have qualified for the previous two Rugby World Cups and additionally unions who have made a major contribution to the growth and development of the game.All six regional associations are to receive two votes on Council.REVISIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE• Executive Committee to comprise 12 members (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, nine elected officials, two of which are independent members, and the Chief Executive)• All World Rugby standing committees and advisory groups to report to the Executive Committee• A new dedicated Nominations Committee to make recommendations to the Executive Committee regarding persons to be considered for membership of any World Rugby Committee or Working Group. The Nominations Committee will be made up of the two independent members from the Executive Committee, the Chairman of World Rugby and an elected member of the Executive Committee. One of the independent members will chair the Nominations Committee• A dynamic and streamlined environment to allow the Executive Committee to take any urgent decision between Council meetings. This now includes Laws and Regulations of the gameIn late 2015 a transitional nominations committee was established with the remit of identifying independent skills-based directors for the Executive Committee, while all reforms, coupled with a revised and fully-collaborative revised strategic plan, will be launched after the Annual Meeting of Council in 2016. The package of reform, approved by Council at its Interim Meeting in November 2015, was the result of a game-wide programme of consultation, guided by a dedicated governance working group chaired by World Rugby Vice-Chairman Oregan Hoskins.World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We have enjoyed a very special and record-breaking Rugby World Cup in England and rugby is experiencing record participation growth, media interest and commercial appeal. We are reaching, engaging and inspiring more audiences than ever before. We are redistributing record sums in the development and sustainability of the game. Together we are successful and growing as a sport. That is the best reason for change.“This exciting new model, developed following extensive review and consultation, will ensure that World Rugby, and by extension, the sport, has the governance structures and tools to support future growth as rugby continues to inspire and thrive.”