Richard "Richie" Blackmore is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. His position of preference was in the centres.

[edit] Early years

An Otahuhu junior, Blackmore also played rugby union until he was 21.^[1] He was regarded as a promising loose forward.^[2]

[edit] Castleford

Blackmore joined Castleford at the start of the 1991/1992 season and quickly established himself in the team. He played 111 senior games for the club, leaving at the end of the 1994/1995 season. It was in Castleford that Blackmore had an off field incident with Tawera Nikau that resulted in Nikau refusing to play for the New Zealand Kiwis if Blackmore was in the same team.^[3]

[edit] Warriors

Blackmore joined the new Auckland Warriors side in 1995, however he missed the opening rounds due to the overlap with the British season. As a result he found it hard to secure a place in the starting line up and played only ten first grade games in 1995.

Blackmore played another seventeen games for the Warriors in 1996 before deciding to return to England.

[edit] Leeds

Blackmore joined the Leeds Rhinos in 1997, joining the European Super League competition. In the 1998 Grand Final he scored Leeds' sole try in their loss to Wigan.

He went on to play 45 first grade games for the club.

In mid-1999 Blackmore suffered a serious leg injury that kept him out for most of the season.^[4][5]

In 2000, while recovering from injury, Blackmore played rugby union for the Leeds Tykes against Sale in Round Four of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.^[1]

[edit] Return & Retirement

At the end of the 2000 season Blackmore signed a one year deal with the renamed New Zealand Warriors who were looking for an experience back to help shape their youthful squad. Blackmore played eight first grade games for the club, before retiring at the end of the season.^[6]

[edit] International career

Richie Blackmore was a New Zealand international, making his debut for the Kiwis in 1991. Blackmore represented the Kiwis in both the 1995 and 2000 Rugby League World Cups.

[edit] Coaching

After retiring from playing Blackmore remained involved with the Warriors, and was often seen running out water to the team during matches.

In 2006 Blackmore accepted a role as head coach of the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[7]

In 2008 Blackmore joined the New Zealand Māori team as assistant coach.^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• World Cup 1995 details
• The Teams: New Zealand
• Playing Record at Castleford Tigers
• Profile at leedsrugby