Abdelatif Benazzi, former captain of the French national rugby team and an iconic figure in French rugby, has been elected president of the Six Nations Tournament Council. Born in Oujda, Morocco, Benazzi built his rugby career in France, where he became one of the most respected players on the French national team. A former second and third-row forward, he earned 78 caps for the national team between 1990 and 2001, notably making his mark during the 1995 and 1999 World Cups. After his playing career, he became involved in the administration of French rugby, notably serving as vice-president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR). After an unsuccessful bid for the presidency of World Rugby last November, where he was defeated by Australian Brett Robinson, Benazzi has bounced back by taking on a strategic position within one of the most influential bodies in international rugby. At 56, Benazzi succeeds Scotsman John Jeffrey as head of the Six Nations Tournament Council, where he will oversee all sporting, governance, and regulatory matters of the various competitions (men's, women's, U20, etc.). His unanimous election is a testament to the respect he commands in the rugby world. «It is an incredible honor to be elected president of the Six Nations Committee, and a responsibility that I fully respect and am eager to take on with the support of my fellow committee members», he stated in the official announcement. The election of Abdelatif Benazzi, the first Franco-Moroccan to hold this position, strengthens the Francophone presence in world rugby. His journey also illustrates the success of a child from Oujda who became an indispensable figure in the sport, both in France and internationally.