Anna Richards

Anna Richards
MNZM
Date of birth (1964-12-03) 3 December 1964 (age 60)
Place of birthTimaru, New Zealand
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1989–2008 Auckland 13 (22)
1986–1988 Canterbury ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1990–2010 New Zealand 49 (64)
Coaching career
Years Team
2013–17  Hong Kong Women's 7s
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Women's rugby union
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1998 Netherlands Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2002 Spain Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2006 Canada Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2010 England Team competition

Anna Mary Richards MNZM (born 3 December 1964) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. She represented New Zealand and won four Rugby World Cups — 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010.[1][2][3]

Rugby career

XVs

After being dropped from the Canterbury netball team an invitation from her family law lecturer, Laurie O’Reilly, who was married to then Canterbury netball coach, Kay O’Reilly, to come watch a game kickstarted her rugby career. She eventually played for the University of Canterbury side and toured America and Europe.[4]

Richards debuted for the Black Ferns on 26 August 1990.[3] Her test debut at the 1991 Rugby World Cup came against Canada on 6 April at Glamorgan.

In 1992, when the Black Ferns was formally recognised. She was a member of the squad that defeated Auckland 36–0 at Eden Park.[5] She scored a try in the game.[5][6]

She played 54 matches for the Black Ferns of which 49 were full internationals, she has won four Women’s Rugby World Cups before she retired in 2010.[7][4]

Sevens

She was a member of the first official New Zealand women's sevens team, who took part in the 2000 Hong Kong Sevens.[8][9] She captained the side again at the 2001 tournament.[10]

Coaching career

Richards was appointed as head coach of the Hong Kong women's sevens team in 2013.[11][3] She completed her coaching role at the end of 2017.[12][13]

As at January 2023 she is the women's player development manager at Auckland Rugby.[14]

Personal life

Richards has a law degree and a BA.[3] She played representative tennis and netball. In the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours, She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to women's rugby.[15]

Hall of Fame

Richards was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on 17 November 2014.[7][16]

References

  1. ^ "World Cup Windback: 2006 Black Ferns". allblacks.com. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Black Ferns World Cup squad named". NZ Herald. 26 July 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Johnstone, Duncan (5 November 2013). "Black Ferns legend Anna Richards gets new role". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. ^ a b Egan, Brendon (19 May 2024). "Where are they now?: Black Ferns great Anna Richards". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b Julian, Adam (24 May 2024). "A history of the prestigious Laurie O'Reilly Cup". allblacks.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Black Ferns vs Auckland XV". stats.allblacks.com. 30 August 1992. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b IRB.com (10 November 2014). "2014 Inductee: Anna Richards". Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  8. ^ "2000 New Zealand Women's sevens team - Where Are They Now?". All Blacks. 17 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Looking back: Black Ferns Sevens in Hong Kong (2000)". allblacks.com. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Richards to lead New Zealand women at Hong Kong sevens". ESPN scrum. 6 March 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  11. ^ Jacqueline, Rachel (22 March 2014). "Black Ferns legend Anna Richards aims to instil winning mentality in Hong Kong women". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Anna Richards announces end of Hong Kong Sevens Role". Hong Kong China Rugby. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ^ Agars, Sam (21 December 2017). "Goodbye, Anna Richards, wherever it is you've gone and for whatever reason". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Black Ferns legend returns to join Auckland Rugby's High Performance team". www.aucklandrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  16. ^ allblacks.com (19 November 2014). "Former Black Ferns Richards and Palmer inducted into Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
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