DUBLIN: Former England captain Bill Beaumont formally takes up today the presidency of World Rugby, the international rugby board.

Beaumont was elected without opposition in May to succeed Frenchman Bernard Lapasset who stepped down to focus his attention on his joint leadership of the Paris bid to win host rights to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Argentina’s Agustin Pichot is the new vice-president.

One of Beaumont’s tasks is to try to refine the international calendar to suit the needs of both northern and southern hemispheres and the clubs.

He has suggested considering moving Europe’s Six Nations Championship to a slot later in the spring.

Lapasset succeeded Irishman Syd Miller in 2007 and was re-elevetd fur years later, edging Beaumont by two votes. Most notably his leadership  has seen rugby’s reinstatement, in its sevens version, in this year’s Olympic Games programme.

###############