Sharks winger Mark Richards has signed a two-year contract with SARU, making him exclusively available to the national sevens side until 2013.
The likeable 22-year-old, who attended Michaelhouse, joined the Sharks Academy after school and was a member of the championship-winning Sharks under 19 team in 2008. He went on to represent the under 21 side and the Sharks XV in 2009 and 2010 before making his Currie Cup debut in the 2011 season. Richards earned four senior caps this year, starting in each of the Sharks’ opening four matches and scoring a try against the Cheetahs as well.
Richards first played for the SA Sevens team in 2010 and with the prospect of regular gametime for the so-called “Blitzbokke” weighinh heavily in the decision, has opted to commit to the abbreviated version of the game. He will be based in Cape Town and will continue his studies there as well – Richards is studying towards a degree in accountancy. We’d like to wish Mark all the best for his future with the Sevens team, knowing that he’ll do his country proud.
Bulls centre Stephan Dippenaar and Lions utility bak Bernardo Botha have additionally been released by their respective provinces to take up similar two-year contracts with the sevens team.
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Good for him 🙂 there’s more than one way to the top
Yesterday a report also stated that Cornal Hendricks, from Boland had also signed a Blitzbok contract, but that seems to have been omitted by SARU in their announcement?
Curious?
Good luck Richards! Hope to see you back in the black and white in the future.
I think this is a good thing. I hope he comes back and takes a shot and making a place for himself in the Sharks team again.
Good luck Mark – I’m sure you will shine on the Sevens stage, with that pace, flair and courage.
I think this is a very mature decision from the lad, it can only do him the world of good.
the Blitzbokke team looks to be shaping up quite nicely…can’t wait for the PE leg of Sevens, i’ve already got tickets for both Friday & Saturday
@Megatron (Comment 7) :
Sounds like fun.
@Pokkel (Comment 8) : now i must just decide on a costume 😆
@Megatron (Comment 9) :
How about a Megatron costume so we can recognize you on TV.
You’ll be easy to spot…the oke in the Megatron costume picking fights with everybody! 😆 😉
I wonder if the contract means he will actually get game time this time around? I remember seeing him watching a lot the last time he was included.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : no. not with everybody, i will be targerting the local “all blacks” supporters 😀 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 9) : Maybe you should borrow Clayton’s barbie outfit
@Culling Song (Comment 13) : nah, barbie ain’t for me 😕
@Megatron (Comment 12) :
MOER HULLE!!
@Culling Song (Comment 13) : Why I oughtta
The Richards situation turned out exactly how i thought it would…i remember saying about a year and a bit ago that Mark is not quite there(Standard) for Sharks Superugby; but can be brilliant for the SA Sevens. My Crystal Ball is working well 😉
@JJR (Comment 17) : ja and I only had to deal with about 14 enraged emails from his family and friends while you struggled to find a polite way to express it… 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Its good to be the boss
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 19) : it’s a burden I carry lovingly…. sometimes 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 18) : enraged about what, that their bloke doesn’t cut it? hehehehe 😀
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Sorry about that, i have a small vocab. so i struggle to sometimes express things in a milder fashion…i’m still learning 😉
Jis but Mark plays with his heart on his sleeve; even at high school playing touch rugby on an off afternoon and seeing him finish off was great to watch…remember thinking, jeez bladdy good finisher. He has a great eye for the tryline…he will probably play a slightly different role in the sevens team; but just shows the wide range of skills Mark has.
@JJR (Comment 22) : tell you what… if every player in the Sharks team had a heart even half as big as Mark Richards’, we’d never lose a game.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Very True, always the Sharks biggest downfall…consistency, and it all has to do with the mental approach to every game. Sooo much quality at The Sharks…Sharks should have a 90% win percentage when looking at the players The Sharks have available to them.
Having players like Keegan is great, he is also one of those guys that can’t play any less than 100%…love that attitude! If The Sharks can get the Stars to play consistently week in and week out, we should be in that Superugby final next year.