The World Rugby Council has approved historic and wide-ranging reform of its governance structures, creating a dynamic environment for wider union and regional representation and an independent skills-based voice on the international federation’s decision-making bodies.

The reforms will increase the number of unions and voting rights on World Rugby’s Council.

Member union voting rights on Council will operate as follows, with unions receiving one vote for each criteria that is met up to a maximum of three votes:

• One vote and one representative: to member unions who have qualified for two consecutive Rugby World Cups within last eight-year assessment period

• One vote and one representative: to unions who have qualified for two consecutive Rugby World Cups within last eight-year assessment period and who participate in the Six Nations or The Rugby Championship

• One vote: to unions who have qualified for two consecutive Rugby World Cups within last eight-year assessment period and

• have an annual audited average investment in rugby of £20 million over the last four years

• have bid to host major World Rugby events over last eight years or who are bidding for a World Rugby event in next four years

• have a sustainable women’s programme with participation in the Women’s Rugby World Cup or qualifiers in the past eight years

• have men’s and women’s sevens programmes – reflected by a minimum participation in regional competitions and or the World Rugby Sevens Series (men’s and women’s)

The Fiji Rugby Union had requested for a place on the Council before the Rugby World Cup and is expected to be part of it after this change.