France's Bernard Lapasset has seen off the challenge from England's Bill Beaumont to be re-elected chairman of the International Rugby Board.
Lapasset secured a majority of 14-12 votes over vice-chairman Beamont from the 26 members of the IRB council after one round of voting in the reconvened meeting in Los Angeles.
Lapasset has been in power for the past four years and was challenged by 59-year-old Beaumont which resulted in a tie at the first vote in Auckland on October 19, a few days before the World Cup final.
Lapasset, formerly president of the French Rugby Federation from 1991 to 2007, oversaw the successful campaign to have rugby regain its place at the Olympic Games during his first term.
The New Zealand Rugby Union had thrown their support behind Beaumont to try and get a better share of finances.
South Africa's Oregan Hoskins was elected vice-chairman
