Nominations have been accepted from the member unions of the Six Nations for the group, which will meet this month (September).
The meeting will consider initially any proposals for changes to the laws and regulations of the 15-man game, which need to be registered by early 2015 but the sub-committee also has a remit to look at sevens rugby.
“The eyes of the world will once again be on the game of Rugby Union in 2015 when the Rugby World Cup in England and Wales begins in earnest,” said Pickering, who is also a member of the International Rugby Board council.
“And the Seven-man version of our beloved game will take the focus a year later at the Olympics in Rio.
“The work of this sub-committee of the Six Nations Council is vitally important to the future of the game in terms of safety, participation and the spectacle it represents.
“So I am extremely proud to be able to commit myself to ensuring its hard work and its findings help to showcase rugby union around the world.”
