Chiefs coach Warren Gatland has been awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to rugby during his time in Wales as part of the delayed Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Gatland returned home to New Zealand to coach the Chiefs in Super Rugby after 12 years with the Welsh national team and coaching the British & Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017.
During his tenure with Wales, Gatland helped the side win four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams, reached the World Cup semi-finals twice and briefly topped the world rankings.
The CBE follows the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) Gatland received in 2014 for his services to rugby.
"I am incredibly honoured," says Gatland.
"This award is recognition of everyone involved in Welsh rugby and all that we achieved together during my time as head coach.
"Rugby is a huge part of my life and has given me so much joy as a player, a father to a rugby-playing son and also as a coach.
"It has also given me so many incredible friendships and experiences too. I feel very fortunate to be able to do something I love every day, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during my career."
Gatland will not coach the Chiefs during Super Rugby Aotearoa next year as he's set to lead the Lions for the third time during their tour of South Africa, although the series is in doubt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two players Gatland previously coached, Gareth Thomas and Alun Wyn Jones, also received a CBE and OBE respectively as part of the honours list.
Thomas was awarded a CBE for services to sport and health, while Jones received his OBE for services to rugby.
Jones is set to surpass former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw as the most capped international player in men's rugby later this month.
The list was due to be published in June, but was pushed back to enable nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the crisis.
One sporting star who benefited from that was Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, who was awarded an MBE for services to vulnerable children in the UK during the pandemic.
Rashford, 22, campaigned for the government to allow about 1.3 million children to claim free school meal vouchers in England's during the coronavirus pandemic as he cited his own childhood experience of relying on free school lunches.
