It is with great sorrow that we have been informed of the passing of Cornish rugby legend Richard Sharp who passed away on 3rd November.
CRFU President, Andy Reed a fellow British & Irish Lion, expressed his sadness at the news, on behalf of the CRFU he extended his condolences to Richard’s family and many friends.
The following is by Steve Murley CRFU Chair.
It is with deep sadness that we record the passing of Richard Sharp OBE, the former England and British & Irish Lions fly-half whose fine sporting talent was matched by a quiet dignity and unwavering sportsmanship. He died on 3 November 2025 at the age of 87.
Born on 9 September 1938 in Bangalore, India, to a mining engineer father educated at the Camborne School of Mines and a mother born in Redruth, Cornwall, Richard’s early life was rooted in the South West. After the family moved to England, he was educated at Montpelier School and then at Blundell’s School in Devon, before reading at Balliol College Oxford, where he won three rugby Blues between 1958 and 1961.
From his Cornwall heritage he developed a lifelong loyalty to his home county’s sporting life, both in rugby and cricket.
Richard began his club career with Redruth RFC in Cornwall, representing the club and his county with commitment and flair. At county level he played 28 times for Cornwall between 1957 and 1966. He also played for Wasps and Bristol. He also played for the famed Barbarians RFC.
Internationally, he earned 14 caps for England between 1960 and 1967, and captained the side, most notably leading England to the 1963 Five Nations title. In 1962 he was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, playing in two Test matches.
His style on the field was celebrated for its elegance and precision — one contemporary described him as “probably the most elegant fly-half England ever had”.
Richard also made his mark in cricket representing Cornwall County Cricket Club in the Minor Counties Championship between 1957 and 1970, qualifying as an all-round sportsman of the Duchy.
Across his many roles—clubman, county stalwart, international captain—Richard Sharp was widely admired for the manner in which he carried himself. His conduct both on and off the field was marked by humility, fairness and respect for opponents. Many in Cornwall still recall not only his brilliance at fly‐half, but his generosity of spirit, his willingness to mentor younger players, and his steadfast loyalty to his roots. He was made an O.B.E. in 1986.
Though the records seldom quantify such attributes, those who encountered him remember him as a gentleman in every sense of the word.
Richard will be remembered not simply for the tries scored, the caps won or the tours undertaken—but for the person he was: quietly assured, respectfully modest, unwavering in his support for Cornwall and his sporting communities.
His passing will be mourned by his family, his many friends in Cornish and English sport, and all who valued not only his athletic talents but his character.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and to the communities—rugby, cricket, Cornwall—that he enriched so deeply.
Further details when known.
