Agustin Pichot has resigned from World Rugby following his narrow loss to Bill Beaumont in the race to be chairman of the governing body.

Pichot served as World Rugby vice-chairman under Beaumont for the last four years, but unexpectedly threw his name in the hat as a challenger for the position of chairman.

The Argentinian secured 23 of the available 51 votes, with Beaumont getting 28, which ultimately got him reelected as chairman for the next term.

The former Pumas captain not only steps down from his position as vice-chairman, also as Rugby World Cup board member and president of Americas Rugby.

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During his time as World Rugby’s second in command, the Americas Test nations experienced unprecedented progress. Pichot oversaw the creation of the Americas Rugby Championship and Americas Rugby Challenge tournaments and under his watch professional rugby was also born in South America with the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby.

He was also central to the introduction of Rugby Sevens as an Olympic sport and in both Los Pumas entering the Rugby Championship and the Jaguares joining Vodacom Super Rugby.

In stepping down, Pichot commented: ‘The only reason for which I was a member of World Rugby until today, and that has motivated me to run as a candidate for chairman, is the belief that global rugby needs to be changed.

‘Notwithstanding, my proposal, in which I strongly believe in, was not elected, and it is because of this that I decided to take a step back. I do not want to occupy a post simply to occupy it.

‘Despite the fact that I will now be exclusively dedicated to family and personal questions, this does not mean that I am walking away from rugby. I will always contribute, from where I am, to achieve fairer and more equitable global rugby of which we can continue to take great pride in and be a part of.’

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