Rex Richards (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Rex Clive Richards was a Wales
international rugby union
player. He gained his only cap against France at Cardiff on 24 March 1956, Wales winning 5 - 3. He played for Cross Keys RFC
until 1955 before heading to Hollywood
to try to make his fortune as an actor.
He had a number of roles, including the King of Wongo in Wild Women of Wongo
in 1958. In 2008 the film was given a special screening in Cross Keys
, where Richards had spent his playing career, it was the first time the film had been shown in the town.
Richards narrowly missed out on at least one role that would have made him internationally famous. He auditioned to play Tarzan
and out of 1,000 people he got down to the final two, just missing out to Gordon Scott
.
His nephew Julian Richards
is a film director.
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
international 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 gained his only cap against France at Cardiff on 24 March 1956, Wales winning 5 - 3. He played for Cross Keys RFC
Cross Keys RFC
Cross Keys RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh village of Crosskeys. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.- History :...
until 1955 before heading to Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
to try to make his fortune as an actor.
He had a number of roles, including the King of Wongo in Wild Women of Wongo
Wild Women of Wongo
The Wild Women of Wongo is a 1958 American film directed by James L. Wolcott, featuring low budget, stereotypical portrayals of fictional tropical islanders. The movie was released on DVD in 2004.- Plot summary :...
in 1958. In 2008 the film was given a special screening in Cross Keys
Cross Keys
-Placenames:* The village of Crosskeys, Wales, UK** which is served by Crosskeys railway station** and hosts Crosskeys College, a campus of Coleg Gwent** and is home to Cross Keys RFC, a rugby union team* Historic settlement in Brookhaven, Georgia, USA...
, where Richards had spent his playing career, it was the first time the film had been shown in the town.
Richards narrowly missed out on at least one role that would have made him internationally famous. He auditioned to play Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
and out of 1,000 people he got down to the final two, just missing out to Gordon Scott
Gordon Scott
Gordon Scott was an American film and television actor known for his portrayal of the fictional character Tarzan in five films of the Tarzan film series from 1955 to 1960.-Early life, education and military service:He was born Gordon Merrill Werschkul in Portland,...
.
His nephew Julian Richards
Julian Richards (director)
Julian Richards, is a British film director.- Early life :Julian Richards was born and raised in Newport, South Wales, where his father owned DIY retail store Handiland...
is a film director.