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Dragons statement: Richard Hibbard retires with immediate effect
Former Wales and Lions hooker Richard Hibbard has penned an emotional farewell after it was confirmed by current club Dragons that the 38-year-old has retired from playing with immediate effect. The forward, who was capped on 38 occasions by his country and another three times for the Lions, joined the Dragons in 2018 following stints at the Ospreys and Gloucester but an injury will now see him hang up his boots.
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Dragons boss Dean Ryan said: “Richard Hibbard has been an important figure during my time at Dragons, both his efforts on the field and his work developing youngsters within our squad. His contribution to Welsh rugby has been enormous over the years, especially when you consider what he achieved and the impact he made for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
“I’m sure he will be greatly missed by supporters of our game, with whom he always had a great affinity. He leaves us with our best wishes and Richard and his family will always be warmly welcomed back to Rodney Parade in the future.”
Hibbard’s career took off when he joined the Ospreys in 2004, having previously played for Swansea, and he went on to make over 175 appearances for the region. He also enjoyed a spell in the English Premiership with Gloucester, making over a century of appearances, before moving back to Wales to join Dragons.
Hibbard won a first call-up to the Wales squad to tour Argentina in 2006, winning his first two caps on that trip. He was also selected on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia. “I have really enjoyed my time at Dragons and it’s exciting to see the young front row talent and hookers coming through the ranks now – that’s a real positive for the region,” said Hibbard, who had hoped he could play on until he was 40.
???? ???, ??? ????, ??? ???????? ??????!@richardhibbard2 has announced his retirement from professional rugby.
What a superb career @ospreys @gloucesterrugby @dragonsrugby @WelshRugbyUnion @lionsofficial ?
Diolch Hibbz! ?#BringYourFire? pic.twitter.com/SjoJDD8Qpt
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) January 21, 2022
RICHARD HIBBARD RETIREMENT STATEMENT
“Well, I guess I’m very sad to say that, unfortunately, my body has finally said enough is enough. Disappointingly, it’s at such a young age of 38! What a ride it has been. I’ve been lucky enough to do everything I have wanted, and more, in this great game.
“While trying to write something to explain how lucky I have been to play the game I have absolutely adored for such a long, long time, I think of all the people I have met along the way who I would like to thank, but genuinely it’s been so many.
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“From the boys I have been lucky enough to have played with, each and every coach who slightly changed my outlook, the physios and doctors sticking me back together, the backroom staff who make all the cogs go around and all the kit men I plagued – even though they made it out that they pay for the kit themselves! Also, of course, my friend and agent of 20 years Rhyd, and all my family and friends.
“Something that is truly special in rugby is the bond you make with the ‘brothers’ who you go to war with every week, and not just the team on the Saturday, the whole squad, every session leading to the weekend. During every win, loss, winning streak, losing streak, trophies, injuries, the boys kick you when you are down and kick you even harder when you are up. That is what you do it all for, that slightly weird friendship. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“But the most important person who I want and need to thank is my wife, Louise. Everything great that is built is always from a strong foundation and by God she has been mine. Through injuries, selections, travel, the day after games, grumpiness, Lou has been the reason I have been lucky enough to do what I have done in rugby. Big thanks also to my kids – Tiella, Summer and Jaxson – who also help me get through everything.
“Bit long-winded I know, but the only ones left to thank are the supporters – Ospreys, Gloucester, Dragons, Wales, Lions, Barbarians – you have all been immense. It has been a pleasure and an honour to get battered in your name! So, a big thank you too.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Are the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
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3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
2 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to comments