Sir Bill Beaumont Recognised with Prestigious Japanese Honour for Services to Rugby

The Japan Rugby Football Union is delighted to share that the Japanese Government has awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun to the former President of World Rugby, Sir Bill Beaumont in the Spring 2025 Order of Merit for Foreign Citizens awards. The award officially recognises the contribution made by Sir Beaumont in his support of Japan hosting Rugby World Cup 2019 and the wider promotion and development of rugby in Japan.

Masato Tsuchida, Japan Rugby Football Union President comment:
“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Sir Bill Beaumont on being recognised with this prestigious honour. Sir Bill was a world-renowned rugby player who captained England to a Grand Slam in 1980 and went on to lead World Rugby as Chairman for an eight-year term from 2016 to 2024. He has done a great deal to promote and develop rugby as a global sport. The success of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, the first to be held outside of rugby’s traditional heartland nations and the first to be held in Asia, was achieved thanks to Sir Bill’s passion and outstanding leadership. I would like to thank him for his extraordinary commitment to the global development of rugby, his unceasing support of Japanese rugby, and congratulate him on this award.”

■Reference information

Sir Bill Beaumont GBE DL

Born 1952 in Chorley, Lancashire, England (age 73)

1975-1982 34 England caps, 7 British and Irish Lions caps

2012-2016 Chairman of the Rugby Football Union (English RFU)

2016-2024 Chairman of World Rugby

2024 Interim board Chair of the Rugby Football Union (English RFU)