World Rugby: 44 council members, with 13 new representatives including 11 women

The expanded World Rugby council has welcomed 13 new representatives of the federations and associations, of which 11 are women, including Deborah Griffin (co-founder of England's Rugby Football Union for Women), according to the the international federation on 17/05/2018. "This brings the provisional number of members to 44. The "expansion follows landmark governance reform announced in November 2017," said World Rugby on 17/05/2018.

"That reform saw World Rugby increase the number of people who may sit on Council from 32 to 49, with the 17 new representatives to be women. So far 11 women have been appointed, with an additional six women expected to join by November’s interim meeting, representing 35% of the council. This aligns with the objectives of the ground-breaking World Rugby Women's Plan 2017-25 to accelerate women in rugby on and off the field of play and further gender equality at all levels of the sport," added the world body.

• "Serge Simon (France, FFR) chaired his first Women's Advisory Committee meeting, where updates were given on the five workstreams of the 2017-25…