Richard Craig Tombs

Richard Tombs was a direct, hard running centre who enjoyed a decorated representative career at both school and aged levels but then found his path to senior honours impeded by the presence of Tim Horan and Jason Little, possibly Australia’s greatest ever centre pairing. Born in Te Kuiti, a small town in the north of the King Country region of New Zealand, Richard attended The Armidale School from where he won selection for Australian Schools. Tombs played his club rugby for Souths in the Brisbane competition and in 1988 his consistent form secured a Queensland debut against Wellington at Ballymore.

Tombs then earned selection on the end-of-season Wallaby tour to the U.K. and Ireland but did not play in any of the three Tests. In 1990 Tombs headed south to New South Wales and following an excellent 1991 season under the guidance of future Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen he was rewarded with a spot in the Australian Rugby World Cup squad. Unfortunately while the Wallabies won the tournament, Tombs did not play in any of the matches. His chance came in 1992 when Little was unavailable due to a bout of glandular fever and he made a Test debut against Scotland in Sydney. Tombs finished his Australian career with a third Wallaby tour of the UK and Ireland in 1996 where he had the honour of captaining his country in the 25-9 victory over Scottish Districts in Perth. Tombs then took up a three- year contract with Gloucester in the U.K. Richard Tombs played five tests for Australia in his five year international career and he will always be a World Champion.

Highlights

1985/86

Represented Australian Schools against New Zealand Schools, Italian Youth, Belgium Youth, Scotland Schools, Ireland Schools, Dutch Youth and England Schools.

1987

Selected for the Australian U21s tour to New Zealand.

1988

Represented Australian U21s when they defeated New Zealand U21s 24-19 at Ballymore.

1989

Represented Australian U21s against New Zealand Colts.

1992

Tombs won his first Test cap as the starting outside centre in the 1st Test, 27-12 victory over Scotland in Sydney. Eight days later he picked up a second cap at No.13 in the 37-13, 2nd Test win against the Scots.

1994

Tombs earned two caps, both at inside centre, in the 2nd Test 32-18 victory over Ireland in Sydney and the 1st Test 23-20 defeat of Italy at Ballymore.

1996

He picked up a final Test cap, at No.12, in the 25-32, 2nd Test loss to New Zealand in Brisbane.