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“Over the next four years there will be many great opportunities to develop and grow the game”BILL BEAUMONTBELOWAgustín Pichot and Bill Beaumont were unanimously elected and will serve four-year termsThe pair, who stood unopposed, were unanimously voted in by members of World Rugby’s Council in accordance with the bye-laws at its annual meeting. Both World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees, they succeeded Bernard Lapasset and Oregan Hoskins, who previously announced they would not seek re-election.Their election came on an historic day that ushered in the implementation of expanded union and regional association representation on Council and the appointment of two independent directors to World Rugby’s Executive Committee.A former chairman of the RFU and Six Nations Rugby, Beaumont has also been central to World Rugby’s decision-making bodies for more than a decade, serving as Vice-Chairman from 2007-12, and has been a key figure on the World Rugby Council, Executive Committee, Rugby World Cup Board and Rugby Committee bodies. As RFU chairman, Beaumont presided over the delivery of what will be remembered as the biggest and best Rugby World Cup to date.Beaumont said: “Rugby has experienced significant and rapid growth, which is a credit to Bernard Lapasset and his leadership over the past eight years. “The sport is in excellent health and over the next four years there will be many great opportunities to further develop and grow the game. However, we cannot be complacent. The game still faces challenges and we must continue to protect players, preserve integrity, enhance global competition and empower and strengthen our unions.“I will nurture the roots of rugby, our fundamental values and financial security and will make rugby decisions for rugby reasons. As World Rugby Chairman, I will work with unions over the next four years to deliver healthy, sustainable growth for the game we all love.”As President of Rugby Americas, Pichot has been a driving force behind the rugby development of Argentina and South America on and off the field. Achievements include Rugby Championship inclusion, the establishment of the Americas Rugby Championship and the introduction of an Argentinian team in Super Rugby.Pichot said: “I am honoured and excited to have been elected Vice-Chairman. I look forward to working alongside Bill, with the support of the new-look Council and EXCO, to serve rugby at all levels, promote inclusivity and equality and ensure that our great sport can continue its record growth into new and emerging rugby nations around the world.”The election of Bill Beaumont and Agustín Pichot as World Rugby Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, ushered in an exciting era of governance reform in May. NEW CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN ELECTEDYEAR IN REVIEW 2016 WORLD RUGBY 11NEWS | INFORM