Richard Loe
Encyclopedia
Richard Wyllie Loe was a renowned All Black prop forward, with a reputation for thuggery on the pitch - often referred to as 'The Enforcer' by his team mates. He is currently a sports broadcaster on BSport
, Radio Live
and SKY Sport
.
and its 1st XV captained by Steve Hansen, Loe represented provincial Age Group sides. Originally pursuing a career with stock Agency firm, Pyne Gould Guinness, Loe also played club rugby for the Glenmark club and HSOB clubs. He represented Canterbury and Waikato in the first division of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.
His international debut came in 1986 at the age of 26 versus the French Barbarians in France in a 26-12 win.
in three rugby world cups in 1987, 1991, and 1995. He was part of the 1987 Rugby World Cup
victorious All Black squad, playing in two tests versus Italy
and Argentina
. He then played on the All Black team that lost to Australia
in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
semi-final. He was also part of the side that lost the 1995 Rugby World Cup
final 12-15 to South Africa
in a controversial game where the All Blacks
had been clear favorites.
His last test came on 18 November 1995 in Paris, when aged 35, he was part of the All Black side that beat the French 37-12.
. His test record consisted of 37 wins, 2 draws, and 10 losses. In addition, he played 29 non-test matches for the All Blacks, 3 as captain.
's nose after he had scored a try. Loe was immediately 'king-hit' and sought a rest by lying on the ground purportedly injured. After what apparently seemed like a lengthy delay, during which the offending player, Tomasi Tamanivalu, was pleading for an early shower, the first words Loe spoke were directed to the referee, "Don't send him off!".
In another story, a New Zealand
man who had been faxing letters to the All Blacks
hotel criticizing the team and in particular Loe after a loss got the shock of his life when his phone rang and there was Loe on the other end of the time. "You got a problem", he said. "No, no problem!", replied the man!
Throughout his career he received numerous bans for striking, eye gouging and other foul play.
. He also does touch line commentary for Sky TV in New Zealand and is an occasional guest on the rugby TV show re-Union.
He does a 'Farming and Footy' show called On The Field on sport radio station LiveSPORT which is replayed on Radio Live (and LiveSPORT) the following day.
Loe has three children: Jessica Loe, Olivia Loe and Duke Loe.
BSport
LiveSPORT is a nationwide New Zealand sports talk and horse racing commentary radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Nathan Rarere, Ian Smith and Dean Lonergan present the network's breakfast programme, James McConie and Richard Loe present morning talk programmes and New Zealand Racing...
, Radio Live
Radio Live
Radio Live and Radio Live Sport are nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sports radio networks owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand...
and SKY Sport
SKY Sport (New Zealand)
Sky Sport is a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by New Zealand's satellite pay-TV company, Sky Network Television. Sky Sport 1 was launched in 1990...
.
Early career
A product of Christchurch Boys' High SchoolChristchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a...
and its 1st XV captained by Steve Hansen, Loe represented provincial Age Group sides. Originally pursuing a career with stock Agency firm, Pyne Gould Guinness, Loe also played club rugby for the Glenmark club and HSOB clubs. He represented Canterbury and Waikato in the first division of New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.
His international debut came in 1986 at the age of 26 versus the French Barbarians in France in a 26-12 win.
Rugby World Cup
Loe represented New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in three rugby world cups in 1987, 1991, and 1995. He was part of 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...
victorious All Black squad, playing in two tests versus Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. He then played on the All Black team that lost to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
semi-final. He was also part of the side that lost the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
final 12-15 to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in a controversial game where the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
had been clear favorites.
His last test came on 18 November 1995 in Paris, when aged 35, he was part of the All Black side that beat the French 37-12.
Summary
He played 49 Tests between 1987 and 1995, as part of a front row that included Sean FitzpatrickSean Fitzpatrick
Sean Fitzpatrick MNZM is a former rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand, and is widely regarded as one of the finest players ever to come from that country. He is also the son of former player Brian Fitzpatrick....
. His test record consisted of 37 wins, 2 draws, and 10 losses. In addition, he played 29 non-test matches for the All Blacks, 3 as captain.
Anecdotes
Peter Fitzsimmons tells an amusing anecdote about Loe being 'sorted out' by a player in an Australian State side shortly after Loe broke Paul CarozzaPaul Carozza
Paul Carozza was an international rugby player for Australia who won 15 caps between 1990 and 1993. He was injured for the 1991 world cup but returned in time for the one off test against South Africa in 1992, scoring twice in the 26-3 win which ended any doubts over who was the world's best...
's nose after he had scored a try. Loe was immediately 'king-hit' and sought a rest by lying on the ground purportedly injured. After what apparently seemed like a lengthy delay, during which the offending player, Tomasi Tamanivalu, was pleading for an early shower, the first words Loe spoke were directed to the referee, "Don't send him off!".
In another story, a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
man who had been faxing letters to the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
hotel criticizing the team and in particular Loe after a loss got the shock of his life when his phone rang and there was Loe on the other end of the time. "You got a problem", he said. "No, no problem!", replied the man!
Throughout his career he received numerous bans for striking, eye gouging and other foul play.
Post Rugby
Following retirement, Loe retired to his farm and became a respected sports columnist in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He also does touch line commentary for Sky TV in New Zealand and is an occasional guest on the rugby TV show re-Union.
He does a 'Farming and Footy' show called On The Field on sport radio station LiveSPORT which is replayed on Radio Live (and LiveSPORT) the following day.
Loe has three children: Jessica Loe, Olivia Loe and Duke Loe.