O’Neill and Pickering on WRC board

Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering and Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill have been appointed to the 2015 Rugby World Cup board.

Pickering and O’Neill will join International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset and vice-chairman Oregan Hoskins on the body that will oversee the 2015 World Cup in England.

Bill Beaumont did not seek re-appointment due to a potential conflict of interest should he succeed in becoming chairman of the Rugby Football Union. Dr Syd Millar, the former IRB chairman, also stood down and Pickering and O’Neill were elected unopposed.

As well as overseeing plans for 2015, the board is responsible for presiding over the 2013 World Cup Sevens in Russia, the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France and working on the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Lapasset said: “These are exciting times for rugby and Rugby World Cup properties continue to go from strength to strength.

“I would like to welcome David Pickering and John O’Neill to the Rugby World Cup Limited board as we look to further the profile and stature of all Rugby World Cup properties over the next four years and beyond as we look forward to a first Rugby World Cup in Asia.”