England 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans and head of Rugby World Cup Limited Alan Gilpin will feature on the panel alongside secretary general of Japan 2019, Akira Shimazu, chief executive of New Zealand Rugby Union, Steve Tew, and Rugby Football Union chairman Bill Beaumont.

The panellists will examine the importance of planning, innovation, delivery and legacy on past and future Rugby World Cups ahead of the 2015 tournament, which is scheduled to take place in England and Wales in September and October next year.

The announcement marks 100 days to go until the second World Rugby Conference and Exhibition, which is set to take place at Hilton London Metropole on November 17 and 18.

Last year, the inaugural conference took place in the IRB's home city of Dublin alongside the IRB General Assembly and the IRB Medical Commission Conference.

It focused on growing the rugby family while discussions also took place on the opportunities and challenges faced as rugby sevens makes its Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016.

The safety and welfare of players, particularly around the area of concussion, was also a major topic of discussion at last year's gathering at the Ballsbridge Hotel in the Irish capital.

More than 600 delegates from 120 countries attended the event, which included addresses from European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hickey, British Olympic Association chairman Sebastian Coe, former Australian captain George Gregan and Agustin Pichot, IRB Council member for Argentina.

RFU chairman Bill Beaumont will speak in London ahead of England's hosting of the Rugby World Cup next year ©Getty Images



"We are thrilled to be able to announce such a strong line-up for the first confirmed panel at the World Rugby ConfEx 2014, which will take place in just under 100 days," said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Our aim is to build on the success of last year's inaugural event by delivering a truly world-class conference on the issues that really matter to the rugby family and wider sporting community.

"We look forward to being able to reveal further panellists soon.

"Tournaments like Rugby World Cup and Women's Rugby World Cup, which is currently enjoying record-breaking exposure in France, are part of what makes the sport special and places it firmly on the international stage.

"World Rugby ConfEx 2014 seeks to draw on the experiences of those involved right at the heart of these big events, while also providing a fantastic opportunity for people to gather, share knowledge, network and build relationships in a unique global environment."

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