Bill Beaumont has a bone to pick with online compilations 'celebrating' bit hits
Stadium celebrations and online compilations of big hits have drawn the ire of World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont as he continues the PR campaign which he hopes will get him re-elected when the result of a council vote is announced on May 12. Beaumont is up against his running mate from 2016, current vice-president Agustin Pichot, in the battle to govern rugby’s global governing body through to 2024.
He so far appears to be politicking well in the corridors of power, the Italian union the latest to publicly vouch its support for him in the countdown to the casting of electronic votes on April 26.
However, some of his latest commentary on trends in the sport might not be popular, particularly with paying customers whose value to rugby has been emphasised with the loss in recent weeks of matchday revenue to clubs all over the world following the game’s suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking in an interview with the UK Telegraph newspaper, Beaumont took aim at the culture celebrating the bit hit, claiming it puts an unhealthy emphasis on potentially reckless and dangerous tackles ahead of skills being well executed.
“If you go to a Premiership game and there is often a bigger cheer for someone getting wiped out in a tackle than there is for somebody doing a superb break and scoring try,” said Beaumont, whose candidacy hasn’t been universally popular as high profile figures such as 2003 World Cup winner Clive Woodward believes it’s time for radical change and the backing of a younger man in Pichot.
“You look on YouTube, the compilations for biggest hits get a lot more views than those for best tries or greatest dummies. That is very unhealthy. I would like to see more emphasis put on skill, dexterity, sleight of hand. To me, that is what the game of rugby is all about.”
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I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
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