Rugby’s leading decision-makers will meet in Buenos Aires this weekend when the Unión Argentina de Rugby hosts key World Rugby committee meetings.

Within a week of scheduled meetings, World Rugby’s Executive, Rugby, Regional, Audit and Risk and Regulations Committees and Rugby World Cup Board will meet with new Chairman Bill Beaumont and Vice-Chairman Agustín Pichot at the helm.
 
With rugby continuing to grow at record levels globally and following a successful Olympic Games debut for rugby sevens, the committees will consider strategies that will foster continued prosperity and sustainability of rugby at all levels in line with World Rugby’s strategic mission to grow the global rugby family. 
 
Agenda items include a review of the closed law trials currently operational in competitions around the world, player welfare injury-prevention strategies, mass participation and high performance strategies, a review of rugby sevens at Rio 2016, Rugby World Cup 2019 preparation, Rugby World Cup 2023 host selection process and further consideration of the global calendar.
 
Beaumont said: “Rugby is currently experiencing record growth with more men, women and children than ever before taking- up the sport, but we must always look ahead and drive strategies that further the welfare of our players at all levels, build solid foundations for a sustainable and exciting game for unions, players and fans and deliver world-class events.
 
“Our committee meetings are an important part of the process and I look forward to productive consideration and discussion with my colleagues in Buenos Aires over the next week.”
 
Pichot added: “I am delighted to be hosting World Rugby in Argentina. I look forward to receiving my colleagues for a week of detailed discussions that will further the development of the game at all levels.”
 
The meetings take place at an exciting time for rugby in South America, where participation across the nine World Rugby member unions has increased by 36 per cent to 337,000 in the last year and where women’s rugby is experiencing record growth.
 
Unión Argentina de Rugby President Carlos Araujo said: “It is an honour for Argentine rugby to host World Rugby in our country. We thank Chairman Bill Beaumont for selecting us to host meetings that will benefit the development of the global game.”