Australia send a message to Six Nations over World Rugby vote

Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean revealed that the organisation's backing of Agustin Pichot as World Rugby boss was sending out a message to the Six Nations.

The Unions went to the polls on Sunday to elect the next World Rugby Chairman with the incumbent Bill Beaumont and former Los Pumas scrumhalf Agutin Pichot vying for the top job.

Current vice-chairman, Pichot, bid to oust former England skipper Beaumont was initially seconded by Australia in the nominations and it has been reported that the outcome could come down to the wire, with the result revealed on May 12.

Agustin Pichot is a strong advocate for the Nations Championship tournament that was tabled last year but key Six Nations countries protested the idea of promotion and relegation from the European competition.

McLean said the decision to move away from the Nations Championship concept was one of the reasons the SANZAAR nations put their support behind Pichot.

Speaking to rugby.au.com he said: "We as SANZAAR decided collectively that we would support our own in that regard and we've been very upfront with Bill Beaumont, the chairman, about that, the current chairman about that," 

"We were very disappointed that we didn't get the global competition up and running last year.

"No greater interest than self-interest and that was the case in that regard.

"We thought it was, would've been a defining moment in our game and it was well thought through and engaging the Tier Two nations as well as the Tier One nations.

"You know what it looked like and we thought it was just a no-brainer and a clever (idea).

"That didn't happen and we've made it clear that we were unhappy about that and we were unhappy about the process and that was SANZAAR because there was a benefit to not just the SANZAAR countries but our region and that was our pacific Island region etcetera.

"So, one - we stuck together and SANZAAR have done that and we let it be known to the Northern Hemisphere that we were unhappy about that and we think it should be revisited sooner rather than later."