Elected World Rugby Vice-President (he was the only candidate) in May 2023 following the departure of Bernard Laporte, who was embroiled in his legal problems, former Scotland third team (40 caps from 1984 to 1991) John Jeffreys. it was announced in a letter to World Rugby members A team obtained that he will run in November 2024 to replace the Englishman Bill Beaumont at the head of the international organization.

Highlighting some of the progress that the world of rugby has made over the past decade and particularly in women’s rugby or player health, he believes that “financial growth” not there “that the number of men’s rugby licensees is declining, that professional clubs are suffering and that, although the calendar is being rethought on a global scale, we need to change structures boldly, radically and meaningfully. At the same time, it is possible ».

Jeffrey is in the Bill Beaumont movement

At 64, the former Scottish FA and Six Nations president, who has sat on the World Rugby board for more than a decade, says rugby needs “a hardy, perceptive and experienced person” and that he is willing to be that person. “I am asking you to support my candidacy to become the next President of World Rugby. To do this, I will write a manifesto that has not been presented to you before, which will aim to protect the values ​​of our sport while creating a sustainable economic model that will help everyone without exceptional regardless. place in the world where rugby is played. »

Geoffrey is in the wake of Bill Beaumont, who will not seek a third term, and according to his detractors, he is not the man needed to lead rugby into profound change, helping small nations grow and raise the level of the game. Other candidates should be revealed soon, such as Australian federation president Hamish McLennan, but Jeffrey is likely to have strong support from the northern hemisphere, which is the majority of the World Rugby Council, which will vote in November 2024.