Abdelatif Benazzi: Will World Rugby election revolutionise African game?

With an average age of 18, the United Nations says the continent’s “exploding” population means two out of every five people will be African by the end of the century.

“I see what the NBA, NFL and others are trying [to do] to tap into the continent. They can see the potential,” said Mensah, who wants to see more focus on rugby as a business after the election.

“Other sports have recognised they can’t sit back in order to stay alive, they need to grow.

“I think that the people who get voted on are critically important here. We can’t just have the same old cliques.”

Benazzi, whose nomination for the role of World Rugby chair came from France and was seconded by South Africa, agrees the sport’s administrators still act like a “country club”.

Mensah, who is also running for a seat on World Rugby’s executive board, thinks having an African in charge would make a “massive difference”.

“He (Benazzi) is very much French, so he gets it in terms of tier one rugby, but he’s also grown up in Morocco.

“You’re not entering as a revolutionary, but as an evolutionary.”

Benazzi’s plans also include established rugby powers being given responsibility for growing the sport in partner regions, naming South Africa and France as potential partners for Africa, while also looking to involve more commercial and non-governmental organisations.

He has explained his tactics, but will rugby’s power players vote to play the game his way?

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