‘If we don’t unite, we will die’: Meet the man on a mission to rescue World Rugby… and how he plans to rid the game of its old-school-tie culture

Just up the road from the Arc de Triomphe, in a private club for members of the Gallic rugby establishment, Abdelatif Benazzi is multi-tasking, with commendable diplomacy and patience.

The former Grand Slam-winning captain of France is trying to eat his lunch, before it goes cold, while conducting an interview with Mail Sport, in his third language – and fielding a series of calls from the president of South Africa’s rugby union. Mark Alexander and his delegation are scheduled for the next meeting in Benazzi’s hectic schedule, via video link.

The 56-year-old’s diary is busy for a good reason. He is standing for election as the next chairman of World Rugby. His aim is to be voted in as the successor to another ex-lock and Test skipper, Sir Bill Beaumont, when the ballot takes place next month. Benazzi is up against a one-time, on-field adversary, Brett Robinson, who won 16 caps as a Wallabies flanker in the 90s.

Since the original front-runner for the prestigious post, John Jeffrey, aborted his campaign last month – having become the victim of Scottish rugby in-fighting – the Australian has been widely considered the new favourite. So, Benazzi has plenty of work to do, to spread the word about his reforming mission, and convince the king-makers to back him.

Before urgent action can be taken, there has to be an acceptance that the sport is in a grave state. The vice-president of the French federation (FFR) does not sugar-coat it, saying: ‘We are not soccer. We do not have 150 unions; we just have 11 or 12 – and everyone is struggling. They are alone with their problems, but they have given me the opportunity to work on a project to unite everyone. Rugby is in trouble and if we don’t unite, we will die.’

Abdelatif Benazzi is busy – standing for election as the next chairman of World Rugby

He tells Mail Sport that struggling unions ‘have given me the opportunity to work on a project to unite everyone’

His aim is to be voted in as the successor to another ex-lock and Test skipper, Sir Bill Beaumont (pictured)

So, for the next chairman, is it all just about the bottom line of profit and loss? ‘The big, traditional nations want to know the strategy to increase money for them, because they have big stress about that,’ added Benazzi. ‘But it is not only this. We also talk about the health and safety of players, and the majority of the nations and regions support me to look for new governance.’

Seeking votes on a unification ticket comes across as a logical plan, but it is asking rugby officials to change the habits of a lifetime. As Benazzi explained, the status quo involves different unions and organisations acting in isolation in an unseemly scramble for funds and followers. His message to the 53 council members who will vote is that a whole new mind-set is required to galvanise the sport.

‘Until now, everyone fights alone for broadcast rights and sponsorship,’ he said. ‘But that is the old model and it is time to move on. It is not a revolution, but we need a new strategy, with one voice.’

One voice, but not one language. Benazzi hopes to stand as a symbol of oval-ball diversity, having grown up in Morocco and represented his home country before blazing a trail in France – going on to win 78 caps and two Grand Slams as captain of his adopted nation. Rugby has still not shaken off its narrow, post-colonial culture after nearly 30 years of professionalism. Perhaps this is the man to oversee vital progression and expansion.

‘I don’t want this to be a conservative sport that only comes to English-speaking (countries),’ he said. ‘That is why my manifesto has been translated into six different languages; Japanese, Arabic, everything. We need that.

‘Now, the (rugby) world is still small. We have a protectionist instinct. It is Anglo-Saxon. Conservative. Modestly, I think I can represent a different future. The sport gave me the dream to study in France, then to play for Agen, to play for France, to play for Saracens, to experience so much.

‘I feel rugby can be like that and it can develop. I have that in my heart because I’ve lived it. A lot of federations have encouraged me to do this. They said, ‘Maybe you look like an ambassador for these new ideas’.’

Benazzi sees so many potential for growth, not least in Europe – away from the traditional hot-beds of the game. Having had talks with officials from outside the cosy elite, he said: ‘Countries like Spain and Georgia have big frustration. They say that they have made a lot of effort, but feel like we don’t accept them. So how can we do that?

Benazzi sees so many potential for growth, not least in Europe – away from the traditional hot-beds of the game

International teams such as Georgia feel they are not accepted – and Benazzi wants to change that

‘Some big, historic countries don’t want this. Maybe they are afraid that they will lose their position if some new nations are coming. But now is the time to change that mentality. If we invest in these nations for five or six years, we would have more worldwide competition and more sponsors.’

Asked specifically about Georgia’s thwarted ambitions, Benazzi said: ‘I don’t want to lose this country because they’ve made a lot of effort and they are not far from the top. They have proved that they have the ability to beat the big nations. It’s a job for the system, to give them the games.’

There is also a golden opportunity to tap into major interest in the Iberian peninsula, which the man who covets the most senior administrative role in the sport is aware of and heartened by. ‘It is very interesting to listen to the Spanish,’ he said. ‘They talk about the future and they want to be involved. They even want to host the World Cup. That’s very good. It is positive.’

One of the primary issues facing rugby in this continent is that its greatest showcase is also a major barrier to expansion; the Six Nations. Each year, it is a commercial success and a marquee event which captures the imagination of a wide audience in the competing countries. But it is also a closed shop, which offers no hope for upwardly-mobile European teams such as Georgia. It is a private party and outsiders are not welcome. The chosen ones want it to stay exactly how it is.

Benazzi may be committed to reform and expansion, but even he doesn’t feel it is right to rock this particular boat, saying: ‘It is a special competition. Even South Africa wanted to do it (join). I don’t want to talk about development and opportunities for other nations, but take a risk by opening up the Six Nations.’

Next month, the election will take place, based on a voting system heavily weighted in favour of the establishment. Each of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship countries have three votes, meaning they control 30 of the 53 votes. The rest of the sport combined – all the other unions and regions – wield a collective tally of just 23 votes. By any reasonable measure, it is wildly unfair and the French candidate wants to shake it up.

‘If I have the chance to be the chairman, my first action would be to have a governance audit, to find out how we can give more opportunities to new countries like Spain, to have a voice,’ he said. ‘I want to listen to everyone and respect everyone; in South America, in Asia. They have to be involved.’

However, there is no escaping the fact that the over-riding priority for most of those in the corridors of power is more financial stability and prosperity. Benazzi accepts that he can’t drive change and growth if the books are not balanced first. Tapping into the expansion potential of women’s rugby and Sevens, he wants the global governing body to help the leading nations, who will then be expected to help encourage development elsewhere.

The over-riding priority for most of those in the corridors of power is more financial stability and prosperity

Benazzi is optimistic that the new Nations Championship can have a positive impact on the international game

‘If the big unions feel comfortable with their budgets, maybe they can help other countries,’ he said. ‘Every sponsor will believe in the projects if they see that big nations are ambitious for something to grow; for humanity – for the youngsters. If we want development, first we have to make sure that the big nations have a comfortable situation, so they’re not losing money.’

Benazzi is optimistic that the new Nations Championship – which is due to launch in 2026 – can have a positive impact on the international game, in place of the ‘old’ touring system. He is open-minded about eventually taking some fixtures to Qatar, in the belief that the Arab state has improved its record on human rights, but accepts that rugby has to ‘protect our values’. He would even welcome a bid by Saudi Arabia to host a future World Cup.

The 2031 tournament has been awarded to the USA and despite misgivings on the part of certain unions, World Rugby are committed to that venture into a new frontier. Benazzi said: ‘We have to focus on a territory where we can grow money. America – maybe we can do it with the TV rights. Maybe. But we have to look at the dates. That is very important to the unions.

‘We have to keep the World Cup in September and October – not move it to June and July. America has asked us about that because they have other games (NFL). But it is a good opportunity there. Maybe they given us more sponsorship and more people who want to invest in rugby.’

There is so much on the agenda for those running the sport, which means Benazzi is putting himself forward for a complex assignment. To be successful in the election, he will have to handle the sort of political horse-trading which has long been a blight on the rugby landscape and, sadly, has not apparently improved during the professional era.

In these parts, there are divided loyalties, it seems. ‘With the Six Nations, it is surprising,’ he said. ‘We agree on some decisions, but not on strategy for World Rugby. If England support Australia – Brett Robinson – for the election, I don’t know why. Which connection do they have? Is it just historic or about the Commonwealth? Or maybe because Jonathan Webb (RFU council member) is looking at being the next chairman?

‘It is normal, it is politics. But I am afraid about it, if a country like that don’t want to open the doors and give an opportunity for the other regions.’

He is hopeful about his prospects in Dublin on November 14, saying he feels ‘more confident day after day’

Despite how volatile and cut-throat the process is sure to be, Benazzi is hopeful about his prospects on November 14 in Dublin. ‘Day after day, I feel more confident because of what I hear from unions and regions,’ he said. ‘They need a new model. I have a lot of support.’

The game certainly needs to change, cast off its English-speaking, old-school-tie, jobs-for-the-boys culture and take advantage of its diverse growth potential. An imposing, passionate, African-French diplomat and visionary might be just who rugby needs at the helm.