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Romania's Octavian Morariu wins landslide Rugby Europe election

By Ian Cameron
Octavian Morariu /Getty Images

Presiding President of Rugby Europe, Octavian Morariu, has won re-election to the role in a landslide victory.

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The Rugby Europe General Assembly, confirmed the election of the 59-year-old Morariu for the position of president at the regional governing body, and he will serve in office from 2020-2024.

The representatives of the 46 active member unions have made their choice from the two candidates applying for the post. The former Romanian international won 80.95 per cent of the vote, beating Russian challenger Kirill Yashenkov in a two-horse race.

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George Kruis on his future in rugby:

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George Kruis on his future in rugby:

“It is a huge honour for me to be elected for a new cycle as Rugby Europe President,” said Morariu. “I would like to thank all of our unions for their support and also Kirill Yashenkov for his campaign. Along with Russia and all the other unions, we will battle to develop “Rugby for All” which I believe is necessary for the growth of our sport in the future.”

Rugby Europe is the governing body responsible for the promotion, development, administration and management of international competitions for the 48 member unions across Europe.

The association organizes over 80 international games and 20 rugby tournaments each year, among which Men’s fifteen-a-side European Championships (Championship, Trophy, Conference 1 & 2, Development), U20 and U18 European Championships and all the 7s men and women European competitions, World Cup and Olympics Qualifiers.

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Jon 20 hours ago
Why Sam Cane's path to retirement is perfect for him and the All Blacks

> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.

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