Here are your rugby morning headlines on September 25.
Battle for rugby’s top job
The battle for the biggest job in rugby is under way after the nominations window for the 2024 World Rugby elections opened to find the successor to chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.
Beaumont must step down after eight years in the role, with the very future direction of rugby up for grabs. The race to become the most powerful person in the sport begins properly, days after the favourite, John Jeffrey, sensationally quit the race, and the sport, after his own Scottish Rugby Union refused to back him.
Scottish legend Jeffrey, who held the role of World Rugby vice-chairman, spoke out in the wake of the shock announcement, declaring himself bitter and upset by the “betrayal”. You can read the full story here. It is currently unclear who will emerge as the main candidates for the role now.
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Nominations are open until October 15, with the elections held on November 14 in Dublin. The 52 members of the World Rugby Council will vote for a new Chair, Vice-Chair and Executive Board members. Voting will be done by secret ballot.
Beaumont, who replaced Bernard Lapasset as Chair in July 2016, can no longer stand having served a maximum of two terms.
Candidates for the role must be members of the World Rugby Council and be nominated by a member union or regional association. All nominated candidates will be independently vetted by the World Rugby Independent Ethics Officer, a position introduced as part of the new integrity code in 2022.
World star fears axe
Fiji’s world superstar Semi Radradra fears he may never play international rugby again after speaking out against the Fijian Rugby Union.
Radradra is part of a group of senior players who have blown the whistle on alleged corruption, mismanagement and player welfare issues at the top of the sport in their country. It was revealed players have almost gone on strike over issues, including at the Rugby World Cup.
The players have called for complete change at the top of the organisation, and Radradra now fears reprisals ahead of an autumn tour of the northern hemisphere that sees them face Wales in the first autumn international for Warren Gatland’s side on November 10.
He told FijiLive: “We have now put our careers on the line to speak up for our brothers who wear the white jersey. We expect ripples after speaking out. Most possibly we have worn the white jersey for the last time and may never again.
“Some things we have said will be felt at management level. But we are doing it for the betterment of Fijian rugby.”
England choose new coach
England are on the brink of appointing former Caerphilly and Bristol player Joe El-Abd as their new defence coach.
The former flanker, who is currently head coach at French side Oyonnax, will replace highly-rated Felix Jones after his shock decision to quit this summer, the BBC report.
El-Abd, 44, has been the favourite for the role following the shock resignation of Felix Jones last month, with Paul Gustard previously also in contention.
El-Abd played over 100 times for Bristol in the 2000s, along with stints with Caerphilly in the Welsh top flight and in France with Toulon and Oyonnax.
He previously lived with England boss Steve Borthwick during their time at Bath University.
El-Abd is expected to start his new job ahead of England’s training camp at the end of October, before autumn matches against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan.
England man’s neck injury investigated
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
England scrum-half Alex Mitchell will see a specialist on Thursday to gauge the extent of a neck problem that has sidelined him so far this season.
Mitchell missed Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership opener at Bath last Friday after withdrawing from Saints’ starting line-up for their final pre-season friendly against Bedford a week earlier.
Northampton rugby director Phil Dowson said immediately after the Bath game that Mitchell had taken a knock to his neck, with the club awaiting scan results.
Saints continue their Premiership campaign when they host Exeter on Saturday, but Mitchell is unlikely to be in contention.
“He is seeing a specialist again on Thursday, so more update really, then, in terms of timeline and what it looks like,” Dowson told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
Mitchell, who has won 18 caps, is currently England’s clear first-choice scrum-half.
And head coach Steve Borthwick will be keeping a close eye on developments with the autumn series opener against New Zealand less than six weeks away.
In-form Bath captain Ben Spencer, who provided bench cover for Mitchell during both summer Tests against the All Blacks, offers quality back-up.
But Mitchell has made the position his own under Borthwick, and any long-term absence would prove a significant blow for club and country.
