Dean Richards - born 11th July 1963

The Leicester Tigers legend, Dean Richards was born on 11th July 1963. The rugby union coach played for Tigers, England and British & Irish Lions. He was most recently the Director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons, a position he held for ten years between 2012 and 2022.

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The number eight played 314 games for Leicester, was captain when they won the 1994-95 Courage League and the 1997 Pilkington Cup. He also played when they won the inaugural English league title in 1987–88 and the 1993 Pilkington Cup. He also played 48 times for England, including the 1987, 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups, and represented the British Lions on their 1989 tour to Australia and 1993 tour to New Zealand playing in six international matches.

In 1998 he retired from playing and was immediately appointed Leicester Director of Rugby leading the club to the Premiership Rugby title in his first four seasons in charge. They also won the Heineken Cup in 2001 and 2002, the first side to retain the trophy. He went on to Grenoble, Harlequins and Newcastle.

In this excerpt he tells me how his rugby career began.