Richie Blackmore (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
James Richard "Richie" Blackmore (born 2 July 1969 in New Zealand) is a rugby league
coach and former professional footballer who represented his country. His position of preference was in the centres. He is currently the head coach of the Auckland Vulcans
.
junior, Blackmore also played rugby union
until he was 21. He was regarded as a promising loose forward.
at the start of the 1991/1992 season and quickly established himself in the team. He played 111 senior games for the club, leaving at the end of the 1994/1995 season. It was in Castleford that Blackmore had an off field incident with Tawera Nikau
that resulted in Nikau refusing to play for the New Zealand Kiwis if Blackmore was in the same team.
Blackmore played another seventeen games for the Warriors in 1996 before deciding to return to England.
in 1997, joining the European Super League
competition. In the 1998 Grand Final
he scored Leeds' sole try in their loss to Wigan.
He went on to play 45 first grade games for the club.
In mid-1999 Blackmore suffered a serious leg injury that kept him out for most of the season.
In 2000, while recovering from injury, Blackmore played rugby union for the Leeds Tykes
against Sale
in Round Four of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.
who were looking for an experience back to help shape their youthful squad. Blackmore played eight first grade
games for the club, before retiring at the end of the season.
He continued to play in the Auckland Rugby League
competition, moving into the second row. In 2005 he was the player-coach of the Manurewa Marlins
when they won the Fox Memorial. He retired properly at the end of that season, taking up the head coach position at Otahuhu
in 2006.
international, making his debut for the Kiwis in 1991. Blackmore represented the Kiwis in both the 1995
and 2000 Rugby League World Cup
s.
In 2006 Blackmore accepted a role as head coach of the Otahuhu Leopards
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. He held this position until the end of 2010, leading the team to a Fox Memorial grand final victory over the Mt Albert Lions
.
In 2008 Blackmore joined the New Zealand Māori team
as assistant coach. He was co-coach in 2010 along with Mark Horo
.
In 2011 Blackmore was appointed as head coach of the Auckland Vulcans
in the NSW Cup.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
coach and former professional footballer who represented his country. His position of preference was in the centres. He is currently the head coach of the Auckland Vulcans
Auckland Vulcans
The Auckland Vulcans are an Auckland based rugby league club that participates in the New South Wales Cup. They are administered by the Rugby League Development Foundation. The team is selected from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Competition and also uses Warriors squad members not...
.
Early years
An OtahuhuOtahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
junior, Blackmore also played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
until he was 21. He was regarded as a promising loose forward.
Castleford
Blackmore joined CastlefordCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
at the start of the 1991/1992 season and quickly established himself in the team. He played 111 senior games for the club, leaving at the end of the 1994/1995 season. It was in Castleford that Blackmore had an off field incident with Tawera Nikau
Tawera Nikau
Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm's victory...
that resulted in Nikau refusing to play for the New Zealand Kiwis if Blackmore was in the same team.
Warriors
Blackmore joined the new Auckland Warriors side in 1995, however he missed the opening rounds due to the overlap with the British season. As a result he found it hard to secure a place in the starting line up and played only ten first grade games in 1995.Blackmore played another seventeen games for the Warriors in 1996 before deciding to return to England.
Leeds
Blackmore joined the Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in 1997, joining the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition. In the 1998 Grand Final
1998 Super League Grand Final
The 1998 JJB Super League Grand Final was the first Grand Final of the Super League era, held on Saturday 24 October 1998, at Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. This was the first time the Rugby Football League Championship had been decided by play-off since the 1972–73 Rugby Football League...
he scored Leeds' sole try in their loss to Wigan.
He went on to play 45 first grade games for the club.
In mid-1999 Blackmore suffered a serious leg injury that kept him out for most of the season.
In 2000, while recovering from injury, Blackmore played rugby union for the Leeds Tykes
Leeds Tykes
Leeds Carnegie is an English rugby union club, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, currently playing in the RFU Championship. In recent years, they have bounced between the Premiership and the second-level National Division One, now known as the RFU Championship; they were either promoted or relegated...
against Sale
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in Round Four of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.
Return & Retirement
At the end of the 2000 season Blackmore signed a one year deal with the renamed New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
who were looking for an experience back to help shape their youthful squad. Blackmore played eight first grade
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
games for the club, before retiring at the end of the season.
He continued to play in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition, moving into the second row. In 2005 he was the player-coach of the Manurewa Marlins
Manurewa Marlins
The Manurewa Marlins are a rugby league club based in Manurewa, New Zealand. The Marlins compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. Between 2000 and 2003 they competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition.-Notable players:...
when they won the Fox Memorial. He retired properly at the end of that season, taking up the head coach position at Otahuhu
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
in 2006.
International career
Richie Blackmore was a New ZealandNew Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
international, making his debut for the Kiwis in 1991. Blackmore represented the Kiwis in both the 1995
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
and 2000 Rugby League World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
s.
Coaching
After retiring from playing Blackmore remained involved with the Warriors, and was often seen running out water to the team during matches.In 2006 Blackmore accepted a role as head coach of the Otahuhu Leopards
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He held this position until the end of 2010, leading the team to a Fox Memorial grand final victory over the Mt Albert Lions
Mt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
.
In 2008 Blackmore joined the New Zealand Māori team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
as assistant coach. He was co-coach in 2010 along with Mark Horo
Mark Horo
Mark Gregory Horo is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A New Zealand international representative, he played club football in New Zealand for Te Atatu and in Australia for Parramatta and Wests before finishing his career back in Auckland with the Warriors...
.
In 2011 Blackmore was appointed as head coach of the Auckland Vulcans
Auckland Vulcans
The Auckland Vulcans are an Auckland based rugby league club that participates in the New South Wales Cup. They are administered by the Rugby League Development Foundation. The team is selected from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Competition and also uses Warriors squad members not...
in the NSW Cup.