Bill Beaumont has been elected chairman of World Rugby. The 64-year-old England Grand Slam-winning captain will take up his post on July 1, the governing body announced.Beaumont succeeds Frenchman Bernard Lapasset, who had previously announced he would not be seeking-re-election, while former Argentina scrum-half and skipper Agustin Pichot was elected vice-chairman. World Rugby announced on Twitter: Bill Beaumont and Agustin Pichot unanimously elected next @WorldRugby chairman and vice-chairman respectively. They take office from 1 July. Beaumont has been central to World Rugbys decision-making bodies for more than a decade, and served as vice-chairman from 2007 to 2012.He has been a key figure on the World Rugby Council, Executive Committee, Rugby World Cup Board and Rugby Committee bodies. As RFU chairman, Beaumont presided over the delivery of last years World Cup in England. Beaumont is a former England captain and Grand Slam winner He was also a decorated player, making his international debut in 1975 and going on to win 34 caps, leading England to their first Grand Slam for 23 years in 1980. Beaumont also played for the British and Irish Lions and later accompanied them as tour manager for the tour to New Zealand in 2005.Beaumont said: I am honoured to accept the mandate of Council to serve as World Rugby chairman at what is an exciting and pivotal time for the sport. Rugby has experienced significant and rapid growth, which is a credit to Bernard Lapasset and his leadership over the past eight years.The sport is in excellent health and over the next four years there will be many great opportunities to further develop and grow the game. However, we cannot be complacent. Former chairman Lapasset has been succeeded by Beaumont Rugby, like all sports, faces challenges and my manifesto outlines the five priorities focused on addressing these. These priorities are continuing to protect players, preserving integrity, enhancing global competition, optimising partnerships and empowering and strengthening unions.I will nurture the roots of rugby, our fundamental values and financial security and will make rugby decisions for rugby reasons. As World Rugby Chairman, I will work with unions over the next four years to deliver healthy, sustainable growth for the game we all love. Also See: Eddie Jones Facebook Q&A England demands No 1 status Great opportunity for Cipriani Wales unveil NZ tour squad cheap nfl jerseys .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. cheap jerseys from china . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. http://www.cheapchinanfljerseys.org/ . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. cheap nba jerseys china . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. china jerseys nfl . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. LONDON -- After a year of speculation over whether seasoned internationals from the 15-a-side code would make the transition across to Sevens in time for the Olympics, just one made the Team GB cut: Scotlands Mark Bennett.It seems to keep the status quo after South Africa included Juan de Jongh, Fiji brought in Leone Nakarawa, the U.S. plucked Chris Wyles out at the last minute and New Zealand had their experienced cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams.The message from the Team GB mens head coach is he is envious of no one, but there is still a sense of what if? about the 12-man selection for Rio.What if the Rugby Football Union had struck a deal with the clubs allowing Amor to get access to players like Christian Wade during the Sevens World Series?What if Wade and other interested parties, Jack Clifford included, had been given time to run out on the Sevens scene and prove their worth ahead of the Olympics??What if George North or Danny Cipriani had been given time to state their claim? What if ... what if?Such questions will probably be loudly if Team GB falls short in Rio de Janeiro, and the mens side is the most competitive of tournaments with any one of six teams capable of lifting gold.But as last seasons Sevens Series showed with Scotlands incredible triumph at Twickenham, explosions of unpredictability and laughter in the face of form are rife in Sevens.The closest Team GB boast to a box office name is Bennett, but the Scotland international has been named in the 12-man party alongside Ollie Lindsay-Hague and Marcus Watson, and those two have played on numerous legs of the global Sevens series despite being contracted to Aviva Premiership clubs.Amor has largely gone for the tried and tested instead of rolling the dice. It is an England-dominated selection, too, with eight making the cut alongside two from Scotland and a Welsh duo.Fiji are the team to beat and they pack the most potent cocktail of power, pace, prowess and precision; Team GB perhaps lack in physicality and may struggle in the aerial battle.James Rodwell, Mark Robertson and Sam Cross inclusions are key in the latter area but if they get injured then they will lack replacements in the camp.dddddddddddd Similarly, they will struggle in the attritional areas and will look to Phil Burgess for over-the-ball pinching to counter physicality.?Of those omitted, Luke Treharne will feel the most hard done by. Then theres Cory Allen, the Wales centre, who attempted to force his way into contention but left his charge too late, and Joe Simpson, who was ruled out through injury.There is an element of uneasiness about Team GBs prospects -- the poor form of England and Wales in last seasons Sevens Series saw them fall off the crowded pedestal of favourites -- but in skipper Tom Mitchell, there is hope.He is fiercely talented and one of the best playmakers gracing the circuit. His ability to spot space will give Team GB a point of difference. His experience is also invaluable and that is one area the team will not be found wanting in.The lack of wildcards means they are all well drilled in the short-form of the game and have it running through their DNA.But while they are a group who know Sevens like the back of their respective hands, they will only have had a limited number of tournaments together. Team GB have only played in four competitions as a unit, and then they were split across two teams.Compare that to their competitors, who have had an entire Series as a group and Team GB seem to be at a disadvantage.Amors 12-man squad is the just about the best he could have assembled given his situation. They wont go to Rio as favourites but the pressure of an Olympic Games can do strange things to medal-chasers.While England, Wales and Scotland have just three tournament victories between them out of the past 28 legs of the World Series, together they may offer a different, more potent cocktail and there is no better stage to prove that.It all kicks off on Aug. 9 against Kenya for Team GB. Win gold and they will rightly laugh in the face of the naysayers but fall short and that nasty itch of the what if will be hard to ignore. ' ' '
