Sir Bryan Williams, of Auckland, KNZM, for services to rugby
Sir Bryan Williams has been involved in rugby in New Zealand and Samoa since the 1960s. Sir Bryan previously played for the All Blacks from 1970 to 1978, played Provincial rugby for Auckland and club rugby for Ponsonby, and coached the Samoan national team in the 1990s. He was appointed President of New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) from 2011 to 2013 and oversaw the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He has been a member of Ponsonby Rugby Football Club since 1960 and has held a number of positions including as President and Director of Rugby from 2001 to 2015. He continues to serve on the Club’s Committee. He established the Rugby Academy at Mount Albert Grammar School, and served as Director until 2012. In 2017, in honour of their former student, the school renamed their number one playing field the BG Williams Field. He continues as Patron and Past President of the New Zealand Barbarians Rugby Club, having served as President from 2015 to 2016. He is a Trustee of the New Zealand Rugby Foundation. Mr Williams received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Auckland in 2015.