One Percenters: Why Australia is backing Pichot in World Rugby elections, Kuridrani's new hobbies

Sun, Apr 26, 2020, 8:00 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Rugby Australia has put its support behind Gus Pichot in the World Rugby elections. Photo: Getty Images
Rugby Australia has put its support behind Gus Pichot in the World Rugby elections. Photo: Getty Images

Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean says the desire to send a message to the Northern Hemisphere was behind the organisation's backing of Agustin Pichot as World Rugby chairman.

Argentinian Pichot, who has been vice-chairman for the past four years, is running against incumbent Bill Beaumont for World Rugby's top job.

Rugby Australia was the organisation that seconded Pichot's bid for the chairmanship, something that raised eyebrows at the time.

While Pichot seemed initially to be the rank outsider in an election process that rarely produces shock results, it has been reported that the outcome could come down to the wire, with votes cast on Sunday.

Pichot is a strong advocate for tier two nations and for the Southern Hemisphere as a whole, being from the SANZAAR region, and has shown in recent years, that he isn't afraid to share his views.

The former Pumas international was the key advocate for the ultimately scrapped Nations Championship tournament last year, vocal about the need to provide more opportunities for countries at all levels.

That competition was seen as a huge opportunity in the south, but key Six Nations countries protested to the idea of promotion and relegation and the European competition since went into talks about selling the tournament rights to a private company.

McLean said the decision to move away from the Nations Championship concept was one of the reasons the SANZAAR nations put their support behind Pichot.

"We as SANZAAR decided collectively that we would support our own in that regard and we've been very upfront with Bill Beaumont, the chairman, about that, the current chairman about that," he said.

"We were very disappointed that we didn't get the global competition up and running last year.

"No greater interest than self-interest and that was the case in that regard.


"We thought it was, would've been a defining moment in our game and it was well thought through and engaging the Tier Two nations as well as the Tier One nations.

"You know what it looked like and we thought it was just a no-brainer and a clever (idea).

"That didn't happen and we've made it clear that we were unhappy about that and we were unhappy about the process and that was SANZAAR because there was a benefit to not just the SANZAAR countries but our region and that was our pacific Island region etcetera.

"So, one - we stuck together and SANZAAR have done that and we let it be known to the Northern Hemisphere that we were unhappy about that and we think it should be revisited sooner rather than later."

Asia Rugby's federations revealed that all but two of their unions had voted for Pichot in the ballot but other countries have kept their cards fairly close to their chest.

France and Fiji shaped as Beaumont, and vice-chairman candidate Bernard Laporte's, key supporters but Fiji's nomination of the now stood down Francis Kean courted controversy in the lead-up to the vote.

Votes for the World Rugby elections have been cast this weekend, in a secret electronic ballot, and the results will be revealed on May 12.

Kuridrani adding strings to his off-field bow

Tevita Kuridrani is finding new hobbies in isolation. Photo: Getty ImagesBrumbies star Tevita Kuridrani is using his time in isolation to try and hone his hobbies and there are a few surprising ones in the lineup.

Kuridrani said he was still adjusting to the time away from his teammates and the extra free time he suddenly has.

"As a football player, you're used to training and playing all the time and you're always doing something but now it's sort of just, I've played a long time and just not used to staying home and doing my own training and trying to get fit by myself," he said.

"I just try and do things that entertain me and kill time for me every day. It's trying to do everything to make me busy all the time. I'm not used to this life but can't do much about it."

To fill the void, the 28-year-old recently bought a new gaming console and a bicycle to ride around Lake Burley Griffin in the capital.

"I just bought heaps of stuff - bought a PS4, bought a guitar, bought a bike,and riding the bike around the lake, playing and singing, playing PS4 and just doing a little bit of reading about business stuff and things, focusing on (thinking about) what am I going to do after rugby?"

He's been reading books about business in a bid to try and contemplate his plans post-rugby.

But the hobby he's most excited about is cooking.

Kuridrani said he'd been getting in the kitchen far more often in this current period and he's pretty happy with his burgeoning skills.

"I've picked up a new hobby, cooking a lot. Should be a chef soon," he laughed.

Kepus show off TikTok skills

Killing time.. #IsoFings

A post shared by Sekope Kepu (@sekopekepu) on


What do you do when you're stuck in quarantine with your partner and four kids? Make a TikTok video of course.

Former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu, wife Anna and their four kids showed off their coordination in this impressive clip.

We think you'd be hard pressed to find a better effort than this one!

Silver linings to isolation

For many people, the current isolation protocols have them in close quarters with their partners.

While that might be testing for some, for a number of professional athletes it's a blessing in disguise.

With professional sports taking athletes all around the world, the isolation has given some couples a rare chance to spend an extended stretch together.

One of those couples is rugby duo, Aussie Sevens star Alicia Lucas and her husband, scrumhalf Matt.

Matt Lucas has been playing and living in Japan while Alicia was with the Sevens program in Sydney but with the pandemic hitting, the pair have been living together in recent weeks.


Barretts "expanding their bubble"


All Blacks star Beauden Barrett is adding to the family dynasty.

Barrett and wife Hannah revealed this week that they're expecting a baby in the coming months.

Boy or girl, if  her dad and uncles are anything to go by, Barrett could be a name we're hearing in rugby for a long time.

"Game of the Century" rewind

The 2000 Sydney Bledisoe Test was one for the ages and we've got the best parts of the "Game of the Century" available for you right here.

Watch the extended highlights of the game considered one of the best examples of Test rugby in history right here.

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