(Reuters) - Australian Brett Robinson was elected chairman of World Rugby on Thursday following two rounds of voting at the 2024 Interim meeting of Council in Dublin.
Robinson, 54, is the first permanent chairman of the global governing body from the southern hemisphere, and was chosen over Moroccan Abdelatif Benazzi, who played internationally for France, and Italian Andrea Rinaldo.
"It is an immense privilege and honour to have been elected World Rugby Chair by my Council colleagues today," Robinson said.
"During the course of the process, I have had many conversations with my colleagues around the world and am heartened by our shared ambition to continue to build on the strength of our game."
The new chairman has promised the progressive evolution of global growth strategy, deepened collaboration across the game and continued prioritisation of player welfare.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
