Name Leo Williams | Role Rugby union | |
Died October 13, 2009, Brisbane, Australia | ||
Leo Gerard Williams AO (1941 – 14 October 2009) was an Australian rugby union player and official, who played for the Queensland Reds (1962–1965), managed the team (1971–1972), then was president of Queensland Rugby Union (1988–1995), chairman of Australian Rugby Union (1994–1996) and chairman of Rugby World Cup (1995–2000).
Williams was chair of Australian Rugby Union during the formation of SANZAR, a governing body which united ARU with New Zealand Rugby Union and South African Rugby Union and which operates the Super Rugby and Tri Nations championships. Along with Louis Luyt (South Africa) and Richie Guy (New Zealand), he was one of the signatories to a broadcasting contract with News Limited which signified rugby union's transformation to a professional sport.