Start of the journey for Deano
Former England and Lions international Dean Richards was born on this day in 1963
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1963
Future British & Irish Lions No.8 Dean Richards was born in Nuneaton, England. Widely regarded as one of the best players in his position he had an illustrious career, winning a trio of Grand Slams for England as well as touring with the British & Irish Lions twice - sharing in the toursits victory over Australia in 1989. After his success as a player at Leicester he coached the club to four league titles and two consecutive Heineken Cups before a brief spell coaching Grenoble in France. He later took the reins at Harlequins but his tenure at the English club came to an abrupt end in 2009 as a result of his role in the 'Bloodgate' scandal. He was found guilty of orchestrating the fake blood injury scandal and was subsequently handed a three-year ban from the game.
1962
Tries by Dewi Bebb and Mike Weston, a dropped goal from Gordon Waddell and eleven points from the boot of John Willcox carried the Lions to a 20-6 win against the South African Combined Services at Olen Park in Potchefstroom.
2008
Paul Honiss has announced his retirement from international refereeing with immediate effect. He made his Test debut in an IRB Rugby World Cup qualifier between Tahiti and the Cook Islands in 1997 before going on to become one of the world's leading Test referees and a key member of the IRB's Elite Referee Panel. In 2006 he became New Zealand's most-capped Test referee, overhauling Paddy O'Brien's total of 37 Tests. Honiss broke Welshman Derek Bevan's record of 44 internationals to become the world's most-capped referee when he took charge of the Rugby World Cup 2007 bronze final between France and Argentina at Parc des Princes in Paris. His last appointment as a referee came on Saturday, July 5, 2008 for the match between Australia and France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
1908
In what turned out to be the last win of the New Zealand part of their visit, the Anglo-Welsh team defeated Wanganui 9-6 but lost their star wing Reggie Gibbs who burst a blood vessel that put him out for the rest of the tour. Before he left the field, Gibbs was one of three try scorers with Johnnie Williams and James Davey adding the others.
1953
Kitwe was the scene of an exciting 8-8 draw in which Rhodesia held a touring Wallabies side for the first time.
1959
Ken Scotland, the Lions utility back, dropped two goals and starred at fly-half in an 11-6 win against Southland. Peter Jackson scored the Lions' only try at Rugby Park, a week before the first Test against the All Blacks.
1964
Hooker Ronnie Hill took ten strikes against the head for Rhodesia against France, who won 34-11 in the opening game of a six-match tour of South Africa.
1970
Bryan Williams, fast becoming an All Blacks star, scored his fourth try of their tour in South Africa to help the visitors record a deserved 34-17 win against Transvaal at Ellis Park. Full-back Fergie McCormick chipped in with 22 points, including a try.
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