DUBLIN, Ireland– Today, Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, has been elected to serve as the representative for Regional Association on the Executive Board of World Rugby (https://www.world.rugby), the governing body of Rugby across the globe.

Mensah is one of the six elected representatives that will join the recently elected World Rugby Chair, Brett Robinson and Chief Executive, Alan Gilpin, on the Executive Board.

Since his election as Rugby Africa President in 2023, President Mensah has called for a change of mindset from global governments and international organisations to increase investment in rugby. In June 2023, President Mensah delivered a keynote speech on treating rugby as a lucrative business venture at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa 2023 event in Marrakech, Morocco. Additionally, in November 2023, Mr.Mensah was invited to speak on the business potential of sports at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum, organised by the African Development Bank and the 2024 Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

Dr. Brett Robinson (Australia) has been elected as the new Chair of World Rugby, following two rounds of voting at the 2024 Interim meeting of Council in Dublin, Ireland.

At 54, Robinson becomes the first elected Chair from the southern hemisphere. He was chosen over fellow candidates Abdelatif Benazzi (France) and Andrea Rinaldo (Italy), by the 52 members of the World Rugby Council.

The vote was conducted as a secret ballot overseen by scrutineers and independent observers in line with World Rugby Bye-Laws following a nominations and vetting process. Robinson will serve a four-year term, with the possibility to stand for re-election for a second four-year term in 2028.

Robinson succeeds Sir Bill Beaumont, whose maximum eight-year term has now officially ended. Among many highlights, Beaumont will be remembered as a leader who delivered historic governance and international calendar reform, the expansion of men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup, and a modernised Rugby World Cup hosting model, focused on delivering growth and impact and the boom in the women’s game. He also steered the sport through the turbulence of the global pandemic, while deepening relationships with professional leagues and player bodies.

Elected officials will serve a maximum four-year term, dependent on previously appointed individuals not reaching the eight-year aggregate term limit within this period (this does not apply to the elected Chair, who may serve up to two terms).

Round 1
Abdelatif Benazzi 21
Andrea Rinaldo 9 (eliminated)
Brett Robinson 22

Round 2
Abdelatif Benazzi 25
Brett Robinson 27 (elected)

Northern hemisphere high performance unions (2): Susan Carty (Ireland), Jonathan Webb (England)

Southern hemisphere high performance unions (2): Mark Alexander (South Africa), Bart Campbell (New Zealand)

Non high performance Union (1): Sally Dennis (Canada)

Region (1): Herbert Mensah (Rugby Africa)

Nicole Vervelde

Communications Advisor

Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.