Agustin Pichot delivers damning assessment of the state of the sport after his World Rugby election defeat… as Mail Sport’s Croqued Monsieurs catch up with the Argentine ahead of huge semi-final weekend

Former Argentina captain Agustin Pichot is concerned about the future of the sport ahead of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

Pichot competed against England’s Bill Beaumont to become World Rugby chairman in 2020, having previously held the position of vice-chairman, but was unsuccessful as he lost by 28 votes to 23.

Three years after his failed bid to become chairman, Pichot feels rugby is at a crossroads and has condemned the sport’s unwillingness to change, while also claiming he never considered underhanded tactics to win the election against Beaumont , because he didn’t want to ruin his career. reputation.

“I am convinced that rugby is at a crucial point,” Pichot said Mailsport. ‘You ask me, “What is the solution?” Of course, no one has the key, but many unions still try to maintain the boys’ club.

“I would never call Fiji to vote,” he added when speaking out about the election. ‘I could have won the election, believe me, but I wouldn’t go that extra mile because rugby is something special to me. And if I betray that, I lose respect. That’s what I have in rugby. I think people respect me.”

Watch Pichot in the latest episode of Mail Sport’s Croqued Monsieurs – an alternative Rugby World Cupwards diary.