Huw Richards
Encyclopedia
Huw David Richards is a former Welsh
and Neath RFC
rugby union
player. He played in the 1987 Rugby World Cup
as a lock and became the first player to receive a red card in a Rugby World Cup
tournament.
and attended school in Ystradgynlais
. He won a sheep-shearing championship but is best known for has achievements as a rugby union player.
before moving on to Neath RFC. Neath were a rising force in Welsh rugby in the 1980s, finishing as runners up in the 1984 Welsh Cup final against Cardiff
. From this Richards earned an international call-up, making his debut for the Welsh 'B' team in November of that year. He joined the 1986 tour of the South Pacific and was brought into a game against Tonga
when, after a lengthy brawl, injured flanker Mark Brown had to be substituted. This was the first of four caps that he would earn.
Though not given a position as a first team player, Richards was part of the Welsh team at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. He was given his first start against Tonga in a pool match after several frontline players were rested but returned to the bench after that game. In the quarter-final against England
Richards came on when Bob Norster
was injured and he remained as part of the line-up for the semi-final against New Zealand. The Welsh side were no match for the dominant All Blacks and the game was all but over when Richards became the first player to receive a red card in the tournament. Emerging from a loose scrum, Richards punched lock Gary Whetton
and was in turn hit by New Zealand number eight Wayne "Buck" Shelford
. Richards fell to the floor. After being revived he was sent off by referee Kerry Fitzgerald
while Shelford escaped punishment. Richards also received a one week suspension for his actions and missed the final match of the team's World Cup – the third place playoff against Australia
. After the tournament he could no longer get into the international team but for several years continued to play for Neath.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He played in the 1987 Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
as a lock and became the first player to receive a red card in a Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
tournament.
Biography
Richards was born on 9 October 1960 in CarmarthenCarmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
and attended school in Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais is a town on the River Tawe in south west Powys; it is the second largest town in Powys, Wales. The town grew around the iron-making, coal-mining and watch-making industries....
. He won a sheep-shearing championship but is best known for has achievements as a rugby union player.
Career
Richards played for Abercrave RFCAbercrave RFC
Abercrave Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team from Abercraf, which was founded in 1894. Abercrave currently have a Senior XV who play in the WRU Division Five South West league and is a feeder club for the Ospreys....
before moving on to Neath RFC. Neath were a rising force in Welsh rugby in the 1980s, finishing as runners up in the 1984 Welsh Cup final against Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
. From this Richards earned an international call-up, making his debut for the Welsh 'B' team in November of that year. He joined the 1986 tour of the South Pacific and was brought into a game against Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
when, after a lengthy brawl, injured flanker Mark Brown had to be substituted. This was the first of four caps that he would earn.
Though not given a position as a first team player, Richards was part of the Welsh team at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. He was given his first start against Tonga in a pool match after several frontline players were rested but returned to the bench after that game. In the quarter-final against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
Richards came on when Bob Norster
Bob Norster
Robert Leonard "Bob" Norster is a former Welsh international rugby union player. He was selected for the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand and the 1989 British Lions tour to Australia. He played club rugby for Cardiff RFC....
was injured and he remained as part of the line-up for the semi-final against New Zealand. The Welsh side were no match for the dominant All Blacks and the game was all but over when Richards became the first player to receive a red card in the tournament. Emerging from a loose scrum, Richards punched lock Gary Whetton
Gary Whetton
Gary William Whetton is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played 180 matches for Auckland, and 58 tests at lock for the All Blacks from 1981 to 1991. He currently serves on the Auckland Blues board....
and was in turn hit by New Zealand number eight Wayne "Buck" Shelford
Wayne Shelford
Wayne Thomas "Buck" Shelford is a New Zealand former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained New Zealand in the late 1980s...
. Richards fell to the floor. After being revived he was sent off by referee Kerry Fitzgerald
Kerry Fitzgerald
Kerry Fitzgerald was an Australian rugby union referee best known for officiating in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final.-Refereeing career:...
while Shelford escaped punishment. Richards also received a one week suspension for his actions and missed the final match of the team's World Cup – the third place playoff against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
. After the tournament he could no longer get into the international team but for several years continued to play for Neath.