Aussie chief hopes IRB rebranding will boost game
The Australian at the helm of the International Rugby Board has insisted the global governing body’s decision to change its name to World Rugby from November is more than a cosmetic exercise.
The Australian at the helm of the International Rugby Board has insisted the global governing body’s decision to change its name is more than a cosmetic exercise.
From November, the IRB will become known as World Rugby, with the new brand to be launched at the IRB World Rugby Conference and Exhibition in London on November 17-18, and the new name coming into effect from November 19.
Brett Gosper, the IRB’s chief executive, said the change of name was designed to help the global governing body become more relevant to countries beyond the 15-man game’s heartland nations.
“It’s more inclusive and much easier to connect with and manage all our properties under,” Gosper said on Thursday.
The greatest challenges are getting a more coherent global calendar, a balance between club and international and, obviously, player welfare issues
“[The name] IRB is restrictive globally. If you are ‘outside of the church’ and you see IRB, it doesn’t mean much.