Bernard Lapasset, the president of the French Rugby Federation, has been elected unopposed as the new chairman of the International Rugby Board.
Lapasset, 60 tomorrow, has been FFR president since 1991 and succeeds Dr Syd Millar, who did not seek re-election at the Interim Meeting of Council held in Paris today.
The IRB Council did re-elect former England captain Bill Beaumont for a second term as vice-chairman and also finalised a new 10-man executive committee.
Lapasset will take office on January 1st to serve a minimum four-year term and has some thorny issues to deal with, not least plans for an integrated season.
The IRB are hosting a three-day forum in London this November and inviting stakeholders from all sections of the game to contribute in the hope of thrashing out a solution.
One of Dr Millar's final responsibilities will be to chair that forum but Lapasset will be tasked with implementing the conclusions.
The IRB must also make a final decision over the controversial proposal to reduce the number of teams competing at the 2011 World Cup from 20 to 16.
New Zealand's successful bid to host the tournament was based on a 20-team competition but Lapasset insisted the issue will be reviewed thoroughly before any final decision is made.
"The World Cup directors will look back at what has taken place and the conditions in which we organise future World Cups," said Lapasset. "We will look at all the questions and the points raised."
