Bill Osborne

For the Australian rules footballer, see Bill Osborne (Australian footballer). For the American football player, see Bill Osborn.

William Michael Osborne (born 24 April 1955) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A second five-eighth and centre, Osborne represented Wanganui and Waikato at a provincial level. Started his club career with the local Kaierau Rugby Union Club in Wanganui. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, between 1975 and 1982, playing 48 matches including 16 internationals.^[1]

Bill Osborne

Birth name	William Michael Osborne
Date of birth	(1955-04-24) 24 April 1955 (age 70)
Place of birth	Whanganui, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
School	Wanganui High School
Notable relative(s)	Glen Osborne (nephew)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second five-eighth, centre Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1973–84 Wanganui 72 (59) 1985-86 Waikato 10 (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1974 NZ Colts 4 (0) 1975–82 New Zealand 16 (0) 1975-85 New Zealand Māori 8 (4)

Post rugby playing career

After retiring from playing rugby Osborne has had a successful business career, including:^[2]

• group manager of New Zealand Post
• CEO of Quotable Value
• inaugural chair of 2degrees mobile
• chair of CoreLogic New Zealand
• director of Transpower New Zealand
• director of Rangitira Services Ltd
• director of Ports of Auckland Ltd
• serving on the Maori Economic Development Commission
• establishing Te Huarahi Tika Trust, a trust handling Maori interests in the radio spectrum
• chair of Hautaki Limited, the commercial arm of the Te Huarahi Tika Trust.

He also served on the New Zealand Maori Rugby board. In 2017 he was elected vice-president of New Zealand Rugby Union, later ascending to the president's position.^[3] In 2022 he was appointed Chair of the Chiefs Rugby board.^[4]

Osborne Taonga

In 2021 a new challenge trophy named after Osborne was announced for the Heartland Championship teams, to follow similar rules to the Ranfurly Shield.^[5]