Rugby Union Pioneer (1882–1935)

  Thomas James ‘Rusty’ Richards was born at Rose Valley, Vegetable Creek (Emmaville).  Tom became one of Australia’s greatest rugby union pioneers. As an international player,
he travelled to South Africa and England, representing both Australia and Britain,
and won a rugby Olympic gold medal for Australia at the London Olympics in 1908.
   He remains the only Australian-born player to have represented both the
Wallabies and the British & Irish Lions.

   During the First World War he served at Gallipoli and later received the Military Cross for bravery.
In the years after returning to Australia, Tom married Lillian with whom he had two children. On 25 September 1935 he passed away from advanced tuberculosis at Rosemount Repatriation General Hospital, Brisbane. 

   Tom Richards was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015.
Today his achievements are commemorated through the “Tom Richards Cup” and the “Tom Richards Medal”.

   Tap on the photos below, and a video of Tom’s life story introduced by Ron Jillett, to explore Rusty’s career.