Alan Quinlan spoke this morning about the upcoming election for the position of World Rugby Chairman - as incumbent Bill Beaumont takes on Agustín Pichot.
The IRFU are set to back Bill Beaumont for a second term this week, with voting already underway.
The IRFU are set to keep faith with the man who has led World Rugby since 2016 rather than backing former Argentina international Pichot. The results will be announced on Tuesday the 12th of May.
Former Munster and Ireland star Quinlan joined Ger and Eoin on OTB AM this morning, and said there are plenty of issues both men have had to address during theur campaigns.
"The current pandemic will probably awaken a lot of unions, particularly in the northern hemisphere, as to their financial positions and the lack of potential investment and financial growth a Nations League could generate.
"We've had this discussion before about Italy's participation in the Six Nations, should there be relegation there... it's driven by finances and I think this will be a big wake-up call for the unions about the possibility.
"There's not a lot of difference in both manifestos from Gus Pichot and Bill Beaumont, so it's hard to look at each manifesto and say, 'well, I'm going to vote for one or the other'. They're quite similar.
"Player welfare is a big part of it, the global season, the Nations League, all that kind of stuff.
"I think Bill Beaumont is probably a safer pair of hands... Gus Pichot is certainly going to bring a huge amount of enthusiasm and vision, but it's quite difficult to decipher from both of their bids who is going to do what different."
Quinlan added that either way the outside perception of World Rugby will likely have to change.
"I think there'll be a real worry or fear for Tier Two nations, I know both men have put proposals in about more supports for Tier Two nations, more regular fixtures, but that was part of the debate last year as well.
Incoming chairman of World Rugby, Bill Beaumont with new vice-chairman Agustin Pichot (right) during the press conference at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin."The voting will finish on Thursday and we won't know the result for two weeks, but I think we're going to see some change in the global game.
"Both of their manifestos talk a lot about change and the need for change - it's a kind of north versus south scenario. The northern hemisphere are backing Bill Beaumont, the southern hemisphere are backing Agustín Pichot.
"There is this perception about rugby that it's run by older people with very set mindsets who want to keep that control. If he wants to get and garner support... he's got to make sure he lets people have their voices and their opinions.
"That's what Pichot has done, he's been really open about how he wants more equality right across the game. Hopefully we will see some change in a positive way."
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