Richard Mathers
Encyclopedia
Richard 'Richie' Mathers (born 24 October 1983 in Leeds
) is an English rugby league
footballer
who currently plays for the Castleford Tigers
of Europe's Super League
competition. An England international representative fullback, he started his professional career at the Leeds Rhinos
club with whom he won the 2004 Championship.
to depart. He ended that year with many predicting that the Fullback would be a star for Leeds for many years to come and not only was he named the Evening Post Shooting Star winner after only missing four games all season he was also part of the Leeds Grand Final-winning squad. By 2005 Richard was promoted to the number one shirt and was one of the first names on the team sheet, only missing one game all season. One of the highlights of the years was when he helped the team to victory in the Centenary World Club Challenge
when he scored a try against Canterbury Bulldogs at his beloved Elland Road. However, in the middle of the 2006 season, Richard injured his knee against Hull FC at Headingley, which not only ended his season but Leeds career. In 2007, he made his debut for the new NRL team Gold Coast Titans.
allowed Richard to make his debut for the Gold Coast Titans. Richard played five rounds and appeared to be gaining confidence and good form until he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee . This is injury is similar to the injury that occurred while he was playing for Leeds and will keep him out for the rest of the season. Mathers team-mates offered to pay for Richard to travel home before he begins the long road to recovery.
to the rugby union
side Northampton
and the retirement of Michael Withers
, although Pat Richards
did a sterling job for Wigan during the last two months of the 2007 season. Mathers made his debut in the 42-18 win over Widnes Vikings in a friendly scoring two tries.
Mathers scored a try in a 47-28 win at Harlequins on his Super League debut for Wigan but was sent off for the first time in his career in Round 5 against Warrington for a high tackle on Matt King, for which he received a three-match ban.
He filled in at stand-off on his return to the side against Wakefield in Round 9 before reverting to his usual position of full-back. However, Mathers was red-carded again in Round 25 for leading with an elbow as he attempted to fend off Wakefield's Jason Demetriou
, although Wigan still won 32-22 to secure a play-off place. Mathers was the only player to be sent off twice during Super League XIII
.
Richard Mathers was married to Sasha Darnbrough on 2 January 2009 at Rudding Park.
Mathers was sin-binned during Wigan's opening game of Super League XIV
for a trip on Wakefield winger Dave Halley
. He was cited by the Rugby Football League
and received a two-match suspension, ruling him out of games against Hull FC and Castleford.
going the other way to Wigan, plus a six figure transfer fee to Warrington. Mathers had to wait more than a month for his debut, when he scored twice against Featherstone Rovers
in a Challenge Cup
tie on 10 May 2009 and scored the first try in the Challenge Cup
final for the Warrington Wolves
!
Mathers played for Warrington
in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos
.
for the 2011 season after he signed a three year deal with the Yorkshire club.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
) is an English rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer
who currently plays for the Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
of Europe's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition. An England international representative fullback, he started his professional career at the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
club with whom he won the 2004 Championship.
Biographical Details
- Height: 182 cm (6"0)
- Weight: 96 kg
- First Grade Games: 95
- First Senior Football Club: Leeds Rhinos
- First Grade Clubs: Leeds RhinosLeeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, Gold Coast TitansGold Coast TitansGold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
, Wigan WarriorsWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and Warrington WolvesWarrington WolvesWarrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003.... - Tries: 31
- Goals: 0
- Field Goals: 1
- Points: 126
Early days
Richard first started off his rugby league career at amateur rugby league club the Milford Marlins. Richard is one of numerous players who has risen through the ranks at Leeds. A star of the Academy, with whom he played in two consecutive Grand Final wins with, he broke into the first team at the end of 2002 after a loan spell with Warrington Wolves. After making seven appearances with Wolves Richard rejoined the Rhinos, scoring a try in just his second appearance. The following season Richard became a first team regular and his form in 2004 was such that the Rhinos allowed former Wigan star Gary ConnollyGary Connolly
Gary J. Connolly was a rugby league full back who later played at centre for St Helens, Canterbury Bulldogs, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos and for the Great Britain national side. In the twilight of his career, he played rugby union for Irish side Munster.Connolly was a dependable centre capable of...
to depart. He ended that year with many predicting that the Fullback would be a star for Leeds for many years to come and not only was he named the Evening Post Shooting Star winner after only missing four games all season he was also part of the Leeds Grand Final-winning squad. By 2005 Richard was promoted to the number one shirt and was one of the first names on the team sheet, only missing one game all season. One of the highlights of the years was when he helped the team to victory in the Centenary World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
when he scored a try against Canterbury Bulldogs at his beloved Elland Road. However, in the middle of the 2006 season, Richard injured his knee against Hull FC at Headingley, which not only ended his season but Leeds career. In 2007, he made his debut for the new NRL team Gold Coast Titans.
Gold Coast Titans
Richard did not play for the Titans for much of the start of the season, but an injury to regular full-back Preston CampbellPreston Campbell
Preston Campbell, is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
allowed Richard to make his debut for the Gold Coast Titans. Richard played five rounds and appeared to be gaining confidence and good form until he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee . This is injury is similar to the injury that occurred while he was playing for Leeds and will keep him out for the rest of the season. Mathers team-mates offered to pay for Richard to travel home before he begins the long road to recovery.
Wigan Warriors
On 6 November 2007 Gold Coast Titans released Richie Mathers from his contract and a few hours later Wigan Warriors announced that they had signed Richie on a three year contract. he only played five rounds for the Titans due to rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee which required a full knee reconstruction. Wigan had a full-back vacancy following the departure of Chris AshtonChris Ashton
Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union...
to the 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...
side Northampton
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and the retirement of Michael Withers
Michael Withers
Michael Withers is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented at international level for Ireland. He played club football in Australia for the Balmain Tigers of the National Rugby League, and in England with Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls of...
, although Pat Richards
Pat Richards
Pat Richards is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League. An Ireland and Exiles international representative winger, he previously played in the National Rugby League for Sydney clubs the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers, winning the 2005...
did a sterling job for Wigan during the last two months of the 2007 season. Mathers made his debut in the 42-18 win over Widnes Vikings in a friendly scoring two tries.
Mathers scored a try in a 47-28 win at Harlequins on his Super League debut for Wigan but was sent off for the first time in his career in Round 5 against Warrington for a high tackle on Matt King, for which he received a three-match ban.
He filled in at stand-off on his return to the side against Wakefield in Round 9 before reverting to his usual position of full-back. However, Mathers was red-carded again in Round 25 for leading with an elbow as he attempted to fend off Wakefield's Jason Demetriou
Jason Demetriou (rugby league)
Jason Demetriou is a rugby league footballer who is a former captain of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, he is currently player/manager for Keighley Cougars. His usual position is loose forward, and he can also play centre or stand off...
, although Wigan still won 32-22 to secure a play-off place. Mathers was the only player to be sent off twice during Super League XIII
Super League XIII
Engage Super League XIII was the official name, due to sponsorship, for the 2008 Super League season by Engage Mutual. Twelve teams competed for the Minor Premiership over 27 rounds after which, the top 6 finishing teams entered the play-offs where they competed for a place in the Grand Final and...
.
Richard Mathers was married to Sasha Darnbrough on 2 January 2009 at Rudding Park.
Mathers was sin-binned during Wigan's opening game of Super League XIV
Super League XIV
The 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...
for a trip on Wakefield winger Dave Halley
Dave Halley
David Halley is a rugby league player who currently plays for English club Bradford Bulls in the Super League competition...
. He was cited by the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
and received a two-match suspension, ruling him out of games against Hull FC and Castleford.
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves signed Mathers on 6 April 2009, with Martin GleesonMartin Gleeson
Martin Gleeson is an English professional rugby league footballer, who plays for Hull in the Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative , and /, he previously played for Wigan Warriors, Huddersfield Giants, St. Helens and Warrington...
going the other way to Wigan, plus a six figure transfer fee to Warrington. Mathers had to wait more than a month for his debut, when he scored twice against Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
in a Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
tie on 10 May 2009 and scored the first try in the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final for the Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
!
Mathers played for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
.
Castleford Tigers
Richie will be joining Castleford TigersCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
for the 2011 season after he signed a three year deal with the Yorkshire club.
External links
- Warrington Wolves profile
- NRL profile
- Leeds Rhinos Profile
- Richard Mathers Wigan Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.