Rugby stars are sometimes recognised by the British crown for their services to the game - RUCK brings you all you need to know
Some of rugby's biggest names have been recognised by the British monarchy for their services to the game.
Sir Clive Woodward and now Sir Bill Beaumont spring to mind when considering rugby icons who have been knighted, but there are plenty more.
There are also other honours bestowed upon individuals, such as CBEs, OBEs and MBEs, and many rugby players have also been recognised with those, though they are of a lower rank than those of the aforementioned individuals.
What are knighthoods?
Knighthoods are honours awarded to individuals by the sovereign of the United Kingdom in recognition of achievements in or services to a particular field.
Individuals are deemed to be 'knighted' when they are awarded a medal or badge which signifies that they have been given the title.
The Knight Grand Cross/Dame Grand Cross (GBE) is the highest honour of the chivalric order, followed by Knight Commander/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE). Those who have received these honours are free to take the title Sir or Dame.
Below GBE and KBE, in order, are Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Honorary knighthoods are awarded to citizens of countries where the British sovereign - in this case, the Queen - is not the head of state.
Rugby figures who have been knighted
1920: Henry Braddon - He was an Australian diplomat, businessman and rugby union player who played for Otago, New South Wales and New Zealand.
1927: George Rowland Hill - Hill gave 49 years service to the RFU, and in 1927 became the first person to be knighted for services to the sport of rugby union.
1944: Wavell Wakefield, 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal - He was an English rugby union player for Harlequins, Leicester Tigers and England, President of the Rugby Football Union and Conservative politician.
1968: Carl Aarvold - He was an English barrister who became Recorder of London. Among other cases, he presided at the 1965 trial of the Kray twins. In his earlier days, he was also an nternational player for England and the British Lions.
1969: Weary Dunlop - He was an Australian surgeon who was renowned for his leadership while being held prisoner by the Japanese during World War II. Prior to the war he had represented the Wallabies.
1972: Harcourt Caughey - The All Black was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to health administration.
1992: Peter Yarranton
1998: Wilson Whineray - The All Black was knighted in 1998 "for services to sport and business management".
1999: Brian Lochore - He was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport and the community.
2001: Tony O'Reilly - The Irish legend was knighted, as a Knight Bachelor, by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2001 New Year's Honours, "for services to Northern Ireland" – including in recognition for his work as head of The Ireland Funds charity.
2004: Clive Woodward - The ex-England head coach was knighted in the 2004 New Year's honours following England's World Cup triumph in 2003.
2009: Colin Meads - Following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government, Meads accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit
2010: Fred Allen - He was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to rugby.
2010: Ian McGeechan - The Scot was knighted in the 2010 New Years Honours List for his services to rugby.
2011: John Graham - The 22 time capped All Black was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and sports.
2012: Graham Henry - The former All Blacks head coach was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 New Year Honours, for services to rugby.
2012: John Kirwan - The All Blacks legend was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to mental health and rugby.
2013: Gordon Tietjens - In the New Year Honours 1999, Tietjens was appointed a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit, in the New Year Honours 2007, he was elevated to Companion of the same order, and in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, Tietjens was further promoted to a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
2015: Gareth Edwards - The Wales and British Lions legend was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2015, for services to sport and for charitable services.
2017: Michael Jones - He was awarded a knighthood for being a driver of economic and social development for Pacific people in New Zealand, and in the Pacific region.
2018: Bill Beaumont - He was knighted in the Queen's New Year Honours list in 2018.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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