Agustin Pichot has announced his late bid to replace Sir Bill Beaumont as chairman of World Rugby next month.
The former Argentina captain and scrum-half has served as Beaumont's second-in-command at rugby union's global governing body since 2016, but now has his sights set on the top job.
Ex-England skipper Beaumont is seeking re-election at May's council meeting, but with French Rugby Federation (FRF) chief Bernard Laporte now running as his candidate for vice-chair.
Pichot - whose lengthy playing career included spells with Bristol and Richmond - announced his candidacy on social media.
"Women and men, we all fight for and believe in fair, equal and more inclusive world. Do we?" wrote the Pumas great.
"If so, it is time to make these dreams a reality for our sport, rugby.
"It is time to think of a sport where professional and commercial income is becoming a true benefit for all, by empowering rugby's growth around the world and by moving on from the time where those benefits were for just a few."
Rugby union has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with the shutdown of the sport across the world providing significant financial challenges for clubs and unions alike.
Pichot believes that the sport needs to seize the opportunity to change itself for good.
He added: "It is a critical time and a critical election.
"The current crisis is an opportunity for the global realignment of our game. We cannot miss it.
"It is time to align our global calendar and demonstrate our strategic intent to attract the sustainable investment we need, or risk falling back to individual hand-outs and rants in the absence of a long-term vision for a global game.
"It is time to change, to focus our attention, love and dedication to all unions and federations equally."
