Bill Osborne

William Michael Osborne 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.

Post rugby playing career

After retiring from playing rugby Osborne has had a successful business career, including:

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. In 2022 he was appointed Chair of the 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.