Bill Osborne
{{about||the Australian rules footballer|Bill Osborne (Australian footballer)|the American football player|Bill Osborn}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Bill Osborne
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| nickname =
| birth_name = William Michael Osborne
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|04|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Whanganui, New Zealand
| death_place =
| death_date =
| position = Second five-eighth, centre
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|82|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| repteam1 = NZ Colts
| repteam2 = {{nrut|New Zealand}}
| repteam3 = New Zealand Māori
| repyears1 = 1974
| repyears2 = 1975–82
| repyears3 = 1975-85
| repcaps1 = 4
| repcaps2 = 16
| repcaps3 = 8
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 0
| reppoints3 = 4
| province1 = Wanganui
| province2 = Waikato
| provinceyears1 = 1973–84
| provinceyears2 = 1985-86
| provinceapps1 = 72
| provinceapps2 = 10
| provincepoints1 = 59
| provincepoints2 = 0
| relatives = Glen Osborne (nephew)
| school = Wanganui High School
}}
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.{{cite web| url = http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=682 |title = Bill Osborne | last = Luxford | first = Bob | publisher = New Zealand Rugby Union | accessdate = 12 January 2015}}
Post rugby playing career
After retiring from playing rugby Osborne has had a successful business career, including:{{cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/whanganuis-bill-osborne-went-from-all-black-to-business-supremo/OTHRKWGNOWKY2322KB4PJNKL4Y/ | title=From All Black to business supremo | date=3 September 2023 }}
- 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/outgoing-new-zealand-rugby-president-bill-osborne-on-strategy-and-leadership | title=The winning strategies of New Zealand's rugby All Blacks | McKinsey }} In 2022 he was appointed Chair of the Chiefs Rugby board.{{cite web | url=https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/bill-osborne-appointed-chair-of-chiefs-rugby-board | title=Media Release | Bill Osborne Appointed Chair of Chiefs Rugby Board }}
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.{{cite web | url=https://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/2021/11/11/bunnings-warehouse-heartland-championship-introduces-the-bill-osborne-taonga-and-ian-kirkpatrick-medal/ | title=Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship introduces the Bill Osborne Taonga and Ian Kirkpatrick Medal - RUGBY HEARTLAND | date=11 November 2021 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-bef | before = Kent Lambert}}
{{s-ttl | title = Tom French Memorial
Māori rugby union player of the year| years=1977}}
{{s-aft | after = Eddie Dunn}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Osborne, Bill}}
Category:Rugby union players from Whanganui
Category:People educated at Whanganui High School
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:New Zealand international rugby union players
Category:Wanganui rugby union players
Category:Waikato rugby union players
Category:Māori All Blacks players
Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen
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