Retired BOD remains a key mover and shaker

It’s over two months since Brian O’Driscoll laced up his boots for the last time, but the former Leinster and Ireland centre is still rated as one of the game’s principal movers and shakers.

O’Driscoll was rated fifth among ‘Rugby World’ magazine’s list of the game’s top power brokers in its most recent issue, an astonishingly high position for someone who does not frequent the corridors of power as a manager, coach, administrator or sponsor.

The Dubliner’s import is only stressed further by the fact that the highest ranking man in the list still playing the game is New Zealand’s legendary captain Richie McCaw.

Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty has been listed as numero uno by the publication having led the breakaway from the old Heineken Cup structure and its replacement by the successor competition, the Champions Cup.

Joel Jutge, the International Rugby Board’s referees manager, places second on the list — a recognition no doubt of the rather complicated nature of rugby compared to other field sports and, as a consequence, the centrality of those who call the shots on the pitch.

Ian Ritchie, the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive, completes the top three.

Rugby World’s top 10:

1 Mark McCafferty

2 Joel Jutge

3 Ian Ritchie

4 Steve Hansen

5 Brian O’Driscoll

6 Agustin Pichot

7 Eric Bale

8 Jonny Wilkinson

9 Brett Gosper

10 Stuart Lancaster.