Springbok no. 6 · Inside Centre
Alf Richards
Alfred Renfrew Richards · WP
3Tests
0Tries
0Tours
23Age at debut
Test career
1891
First test
30 Jul 1891, age 23 · Inside Centre v Britain, Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth
Last test
5 Sep 1891, age 23 · Inside Centre v Britain, Newlands, Cape Town
Biography
Alf Richards was a rare double international and captain. He played in all three Tests against the 1891 British Isles side, at inside centre and halfback, and led South Africa in the third Test at Newlands, becoming the country’s third rugby captain.
Born in Grahamstown on 14 December 1867 and schooled at the Leys in Cambridge, he played for Western Province. He was also a fine opening batsman who captained South Africa at cricket in 1895/96. He died in Salisbury (now Harare) on 9 January 1904, aged just 36.
Test history
3 tests · 1 as captain · 0 points| Date | Opponent | Venue | Position | Result | Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jul 1891 |  Britain | Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth | Inside Centre | L 0–4 | WP |
| 29 Aug 1891 | Britain | Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley | Halfback | L 0–3 | WP |
| 05 Sep 1891 | Britain | Newlands, Cape Town | Inside Centre (C) | L 0–4 | WP |