Alfred Richards (sportsman) facts for kids
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Alfred Renfrew Richards
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| Born | 14 December 1867 Grahamstown, Cape Colony |
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| Died | 9 January 1904 (aged 36) Salisbury, Rhodesia |
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| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo
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Rugby career
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Alfred Renfrew Richards (born 14 December 1867 – died 9 January 1904) was a talented South African sportsman. He was special because he played for his country in both Test cricket and rugby union.
Alfred was born in Grahamstown, which was then called the Cape Colony. He went to school in England at The Leys School in Cambridge. He played rugby for South Africa three times, and even got to be captain once. He also played one Test cricket match, and he was captain for that too!
Playing Cricket
Alfred Richards played cricket for the Western Province in some of South Africa's first big matches. In the 1893–94 season, he scored 108 runs. This was his highest score and helped his team beat Natal to win the Currie Cup. The Currie Cup is a famous cricket competition in South Africa.
His next important cricket match was when he was the captain for Western Province. They played against a touring English team led by Lord Hawke in 1895–96. Alfred scored 58 runs in that game. This good performance helped him get picked for the third Test match of the series.
Just a few days later, Alfred Richards captained the South African Test team. However, he didn't score many runs, getting only 6 and 0. South Africa lost the match. After this game, he never played in another important cricket match again.
Playing Rugby
Alfred Richards played his first international rugby game for South Africa in 1891. This was a very special year because the British Isles rugby team visited South Africa for the first time ever.
His first game was on 30 July in Port Elizabeth. South Africa didn't score any tries, and Great Britain won the match 4 points to nil. He played again on 29 August in Kimberley. Great Britain won that game too, 3 points to nil.
On 5 September, Alfred was chosen to be the captain for South Africa. He led his team against Great Britain again in Cape Town at Newlands. The visiting team won this match as well, by four points to nil. Alfred Richards did not play for South Africa again after this tour. However, he did referee one rugby match in 1896 when the British team returned. South Africa won that game five points to nil.
About Alfred's Life
Alfred Richards had two older brothers, Dicky and Joseph. They also played cricket for Western Province. His brother Dicky even played in one Test match back in 1888–89.
Sadly, Alfred died young, at the age of 36. He passed away from typhoid fever in January 1904 in Salisbury, which is now in Rhodesia.
See also
- List of footballers (rugby union) by country
- South African rugby union captains
- List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 6
