Frenchman Bernard Lapasset was elected as the new International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman yesterday, the body said.

Lapasset, the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), will take over from Ireland's Syd Millar from January 1st next year.

Millar, who has been in charge since 2003, did not seek re-election.

Lapasset, who will turn 60 on Saturday, won a unanimous vote by the IRB council members. He was the only candidate.

The council re-elected the former England captain Bill Beaumont for a second term as IRB vice-chairman, while a new executive committee was also elected.

Lapasset was a key figure behind the France 2007 bid and in his capacity of chairman of the organising committee has been instrumental in providing what has been by common consent the most successful Rugby World Cup in history.

He will serve a minimum four-year term and his chairmanship will start on January 1st, 2008.

IRB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Bernard Lapasset (IRB chairman), Bill Beaumont (vice chairman), Mike Miller (chief executive officer), Oregan Hoskins (South Africa), David Pickering (Wales), Bill Nolan (Scotland), Peter Boyle (Ireland), Graham Mourie (New Zealand), Paul McLean (Australia), Carlos Tozzi (Argentina).