Meet The Most BADASS Player In Rugby History

Also turned down a knighthood

Absolute gentleman and an absolute warrior on the field. LEGENDARY STATUS!

The most Mentally tough player in history Incredible mental toughness

He became a target for every big (and small) hitter, but they were just waves breaking on a rock.

Jeez the greatest of all time hands down

Richie in my opinion is the greatest rugby ever. Always gave his best

Buck Shelford had his scrotum torn open . Left the field to get it sewn back together and returned to the field.

Only saw him play live twice. Once in Auckland. Once in London. Had to fly halfway round the world for both matches, four years apart. At the end of both those matches, he lifted the world cup. That BLACKWASH sign at 16:40 was mine. Lucky to get front row seats for that one thanks to my brother. As for the 2015 final, he left the field a minute or two before the end, allowing Sam Cane to get a couple of minutes in a world cup final. Magnanimous of him, knowing as he did that it was his last game in Black.

I dont think anybody can argue how influential this man was. His vision, that allowed him to be in the right place at the right time. His work rate. His heart. Nobody pushed the rules of his era harder. He really is the GOAT.

Carter and McCaw the greatest ever for me. Richie was tough as hell and was always targeted by the opposition. But the toughest ever? I dunno...Buck Shelford might have something to say about that. You try playing with a torn scrotum and multiple teeth knocked out in the same match...Dude got his nuts stitched up on the sideline and kept playing...

As a Saffa I can confirm Richie is a true legend from a legendary Nation of rugga players - straight out of the Zinzan elk! (And I don't mean "accidentally" falling over the ruck every 2 minutes - ha ha - just kidding - both legends!)

Love that man!!

Richie the living legend ,,,no doubt about it,,,

Buck Shelford is the toghest player of all time

The best, humblest, bad-ass, intelligent rugby player in the world coming from a South African. I salute R M for what he has done on and off the field. Take care of yourself boy. ❤ your style.

I am an Aussie, married to a Kiwi and you need to get close to their country to understand why Rugby is so important to them. Its their national identity. Other countries have armies and fight wars. New Zealand has the All Blacks and rugby. Yes, Ritchie did play for the Crusaders, but get this. They are just a provincial side in Christchurch, itself not a very big city. Their feeder club is Belfast Rugby Club. The Belfast senior team gets 2000 kids to what them practice, let along play the game. They are where the likes of Sean Fitzpatrick and Richard Lowe come from. True hard men and All Black legends in their own right.

Legend, full stop.

that's how we do down in the South Island, no pain no gain.

He was known as the Wolverine for a reason

JPR Williams lost 2 pints of blood, went off had 30 stitches done by his dad, then run back on