Scotland rugby legend John Jeffrey has spoken of feeling “hurt, bitter and betrayed” after withdrawing his bid to become chairman of World Rugby, having failed to gain the backing of his own union.
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The former flanker, who is currently vice-chairman of World Rugby, had been seen as the frontrunner to replace Sir Bill Beaumont as chairman in November.
However, the 65-year-old, a key figure in Scotland’s 1990 Grand Slam-winning side, was informed by Scottish Rugby on Friday that they would not support his candidacy.
Jeffrey, who chaired the Scottish Rugby Limited Board from 2020 to 2023, was told that concerns over aspects of his performance in that role were behind the decision.
“I’m very bitter. I’m very upset – very, very upset. To be beaten by your own country really, really hurts,” he told BBC Sport Scotland.
“It came as a huge shock. It doesn’t reflect well on us as a country. People are now laughing at us – ‘you said you were standing and now you’re not’.
“I don’t know if they are laughing at me or if they’re laughing at Scottish Rugby, but they’re certainly laughing. It does not reflect well on the [SRU] board.
“There’s a lot of politics. I know I was favourite to win. There was opposition in terms of candidates from Italy, France and Australia and had I been beaten by any of them of them I would have shaken their hands and said ‘well done’.
“What really sticks in my throat is that I got beaten by my own country. My own country at the 11th hour have withdrawn their nomination, which beggars belief.
“Betrayed is not too strong a word. I’m out, I’m back to farming again.”