All Regional Associations to Sit on IRB Council
In order that the goals and objectives of the new IRB strategic plan are achieved a new governance model was approved at the November Interim Council Meeting to enhance the representation, effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation.
This new model includes the expansion of the IRB Council that is the ultimate legislative body of the game.
In an historic move the Interim Meeting agreed that all the Regional Associations should be officially represented on the 28 Member IRB Council, effectively meaning that for the first time all member countries have representation.
FIRA-AER (Association Eueopeene de Rugby) is a full voting member and will now be joined by CAR (Confederation Africaine de Rugby), FORU (Federation of Oceanic Rugby Unions) & ARFU (Asian Rugby Football Union). Previously they were associate members with observer status only.
CONSUR (Confederation Sud Americana de Rugby) and NAWIRA (North America West Indies Rugby Union) will join Council as associate members with a view to being accepted as full Members in the future. Previously these two associations were not represented at Council.
The role of the Regional Associations is central to ensuring that the IRB can effectively implement the Strategic Plan and lead world rugby to new levels of growth and development. The proposed role of the Regional Associations is to:
- Provide a forum for the Unions in the Region to work together to develop Rugby Union.
- Be the body for the purposes of developing the Game and organising Regional tournaments and representation of the views of Members in the IRB.
- Represent the views of the Region on the Council to the IRB.
- Formulate a Rugby specific strategic plan for the Region to achieve the vision, mission and goals of the IRB.
- Approve an annual business plan to translate the strategic plan into action.
- Monitor the implementation of the Rugby plan in the Region and achievement of KPIs.
- Ensure the Regional Association operates as an effective business and Member services organisation.
- Ensure there is a sound system of internal control and risk management policy and process in place to identify and manage risk. Standard constitutions and frameworks will be developed for each Regional Association along with regional specific frameworks.
'For the Confederation Africaine de Rugby, this admission is good news and will greatly assist the future progress and promotion of the Game across the Continent. Rugby in Africa now has a heightened level of recognition on the eve of the possible inclusion of the game in the Olympic Games and CAR is very grateful for this. November 2004 will be forever an important date in the history of the Game', said CAR President, Abdelaziz Bougja.
'As far as the Asian Region is concerned, the decision is positive proof that the International Rugby Board is an organisation that can be relied upon to keep its word. The Strategic Plan for set out as one of its Targets, the admission of all Regions to membership of the IRB Council by 2007 and the Board is well on course for that.'
'If the Board is serious about the global development of the Game through the Regional Associations, then there has to be democratisation somewhere in the process since you cannot expect volunteers to do something for nothing without affording them an opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process', said ARFU Hon. Secretary General, Jamie Scott.
Further Details
Chris Rea +353 87 249 8019
Greg Thomas +353 86 819 6149
This new model includes the expansion of the IRB Council that is the ultimate legislative body of the game.
In an historic move the Interim Meeting agreed that all the Regional Associations should be officially represented on the 28 Member IRB Council, effectively meaning that for the first time all member countries have representation.
FIRA-AER (Association Eueopeene de Rugby) is a full voting member and will now be joined by CAR (Confederation Africaine de Rugby), FORU (Federation of Oceanic Rugby Unions) & ARFU (Asian Rugby Football Union). Previously they were associate members with observer status only.
CONSUR (Confederation Sud Americana de Rugby) and NAWIRA (North America West Indies Rugby Union) will join Council as associate members with a view to being accepted as full Members in the future. Previously these two associations were not represented at Council.
The role of the Regional Associations is central to ensuring that the IRB can effectively implement the Strategic Plan and lead world rugby to new levels of growth and development. The proposed role of the Regional Associations is to:
- Provide a forum for the Unions in the Region to work together to develop Rugby Union.
- Be the body for the purposes of developing the Game and organising Regional tournaments and representation of the views of Members in the IRB.
- Represent the views of the Region on the Council to the IRB.
- Formulate a Rugby specific strategic plan for the Region to achieve the vision, mission and goals of the IRB.
- Approve an annual business plan to translate the strategic plan into action.
- Monitor the implementation of the Rugby plan in the Region and achievement of KPIs.
- Ensure the Regional Association operates as an effective business and Member services organisation.
- Ensure there is a sound system of internal control and risk management policy and process in place to identify and manage risk. Standard constitutions and frameworks will be developed for each Regional Association along with regional specific frameworks.
'For the Confederation Africaine de Rugby, this admission is good news and will greatly assist the future progress and promotion of the Game across the Continent. Rugby in Africa now has a heightened level of recognition on the eve of the possible inclusion of the game in the Olympic Games and CAR is very grateful for this. November 2004 will be forever an important date in the history of the Game', said CAR President, Abdelaziz Bougja.
'As far as the Asian Region is concerned, the decision is positive proof that the International Rugby Board is an organisation that can be relied upon to keep its word. The Strategic Plan for set out as one of its Targets, the admission of all Regions to membership of the IRB Council by 2007 and the Board is well on course for that.'
'If the Board is serious about the global development of the Game through the Regional Associations, then there has to be democratisation somewhere in the process since you cannot expect volunteers to do something for nothing without affording them an opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process', said ARFU Hon. Secretary General, Jamie Scott.
Further Details
Chris Rea +353 87 249 8019
Greg Thomas +353 86 819 6149