Richard Sharp (rugby union)

{{short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Richard Sharp
{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}}}

| image =

| birth_name = Richard Adrian William Sharp

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|9|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bangalore, British India

| height =

| weight =

| school = Blundell's School

| university = Balliol College, University of Oxford

| relatives = Freddie Sharp, (father) Ivan Sharp, (uncle)

| position = Flyhalf

| ru_currentteam =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1960–61

| years2 = 1959–62

| years3 = 1957–66

| years4 = 1957–

| clubs1 = Barbarians

| clubs2 = Oxford University

| clubs3 = Cornwall

| clubs4 = Wasps

| clubs5 = Redruth

| clubs6 = Bristol

| apps1 =

| apps2 =

| apps3 = 28

| points1 =

| repyears1 = 1962

| repyears2 = 1960–67

| repteam1 = British and Irish Lions

| repteam2 = England

| repcaps1 = 2

| repcaps2 = 14

| reppoints1 = 3

| reppoints2 = 26

| repsevensyears1 =

| repsevenscomp1 =

| pcupdate =

| repupdate =

}}

Richard Adrian William Sharp {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 9 September 1938) is an English retired rugby union player. Born in India during the British Raj, his family moved to Cornwall, England, where he was educated at Montpelier School, Paignton and Blundell's School in the neighbouring county of Devon{{cite web |url=http://www.blundells.org/admin/school_notable-obs.htm#20thc |title=Notable Old Blundellians |publisher=Blundells.org |access-date=2012-09-05 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030731/http://www.blundells.org/admin/school_notable-obs.htm#20thc |url-status=dead }} and at Balliol College, Oxford. He is a former player at Redruth R.F.C., Wasps FC, Bristol FC{{cite web |url=http://www.wasps.co.uk/HallofFame2007.ink |title=London Wasps Hall of Fame |publisher=Wasps.co.uk |access-date=2012-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219024253/http://www.wasps.co.uk/HallofFame2007.ink |archive-date=19 December 2011 |df=dmy-all }} and England (14 caps) rugby union fly-half and captain. He played for England while at Oxford[http://alumni.balliol.ox.ac.uk/news/fd2002/rugby.asp Balliol Old members] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060512051425/http://alumni.balliol.ox.ac.uk/news/fd2002/rugby.asp |date=12 May 2006 }} and led England to the Five Nations title in 1963.[http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/wofpage.aspx?section=47&wofpageid=152 RFU Wall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121142817/http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/wofpage.aspx?section=47&wofpageid=152 |date=21 November 2008 }} He played cricket for Cornwall in the Minor Counties Championship between 1957 and 1970.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/332/332981/332981.html|title=Player profile: Richard Sharp|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=31 March 2011}}

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1986 New Year Honours, for services to Sport, particularly in the South West.UK list: {{London Gazette |issue=50361 |date=31 December 1985 |pages=11 |supp=y}}

Bernard Cornwell named the fictional character Richard Sharpe after him.{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/yesterday/item/aid/538502 |title=The Story of Sharpe |publisher=Uktv.co.uk |access-date=2012-09-05}}{{cite web |url=http://www.southessex.co.uk/bernard/bcintro.htm |title=A word from Bernard Cornwell |publisher=Southessex.co.uk |date=2002-09-29 |access-date=2012-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324022722/http://www.southessex.co.uk/bernard/bcintro.htm |archive-date=24 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}