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Richard Hibbard (born 13 December 1983) is a retired Wales international rugby union player who last played for the Dragons.
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| Date of birth | 13 December 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Neath, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 123 kg (271 lb; 19 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Glan Afan Comprehensive School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hibbard was born in Neath, Wales. He is married, with three children. A hooker, he started playing rugby union at age grade levels at clubs in the town of Port Talbot, including Aberavon Quins RFC and Taibach RFC. A former pupil of Glan Afan Comprehensive School, he went on to play at senior level for Taibach, Aberavon RFC and Swansea before making his name at the Ospreys.
He also played rugby league for Aberavon Fighting Irish and made one appearance for the Wales A rugby league team in their 28–18 win over England A in Aberavon in 2003.
Hibbard attained his first Wales cap against Argentina in June 2006. Hibbard missed the 2011 Rugby World Cup through injury.[1]
He was named as part of the Lions squad for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and won caps in all three test matches, starting the third and decisive match.[2]
On 16 December 2013, it was announced that Hibbard would join Gloucester Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership on a three-year contract from the 2014–15 season.[3]
On 18 December 2017 it was confirmed Hibbard would return to Wales to sign for regional side Dragons on a three-year contract in the Pro14 from the 2018–19 season.[4]
In recent times (2021), Richard Hibbard expanded even further than his rugby career, whereby he opened two successful restaurants including The Hideout Cafe at Aberavon Shopping Centre & The Front at Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot.
In January 2022, Hibbard announced his retirement from rugby. In April 2024 he was appointed chief executive officer of Wales Rugby League.[5]
In 2023, he expanded his hospitality business again to include Mortal Bunny (Rum) and also opened a new restaurant Sand Rabbit Bar and Grill in 2024 on Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot.
International tries
edit| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Scotland |
Edinburgh, Scotland | Murrayfield | 2013 Six Nations | 9 March 2013 | Win |
| 2 |  Ireland |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches | 8 August 2015 | Loss |
References
edit- ^ "Rugby World Cup 2011: Sam Warburton leads Wales in New Zealand". BBC. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ Paul Rees (30 April 2013). "Jonny Wilkinson turned down Lions chance, says Warren Gatland". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ "Gloucester sign Wales and Lions hooker Richard Hibbard from the Ospreys". Gloucester Rugby. 16 December 2013.
- ^ "Wales hooker Richard Hibbard will leave Gloucester at the end of the season to join Dragons". The Telegraph. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ "Richard Hibbard: Ex-Wales and Lions hooker named Wales Rugby League chief executive". BBC Sport. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
External links
edit- Richard Hibbard at Premiership Rugby
- Richard Hibbard at ESPNscrum
- Richard Hibbard at ItsRugby.co.uk
- Gloucester profile
- Ospreys profile
- Wales profile
The Front Aberavon - https://www.thefrontaberafan.co.uk/
The Hideout Cafe - https://www.facebook.com/share/Fi7YARZpo47mrujK/
The Sandrabbit Bar and Grill - https://www.thesandrabbit.co.uk/
Mortal Bunny Rum - https://www.bunnyspirits.co.uk/