Richard Hardwick

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Richard Hardwick

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|5|31}}

| birth_place = Windhoek, Namibia

| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|102|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| occupation =

| school = Churchlands SHS

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Loose forward

| currentclub = Ealing Trailfinders

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2014–2017

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Perth Spirit}}

| apps1 = 27

| points1 = 30

| years2 = 2016−2017

| clubs2 = {{Rut |t=Force |tan=Western Force}}

| apps2 = 19

| points2 = 10

| years3 = 2018–2023

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Rebels}}

| apps3 = 67

| points3 = 40

| years4 = 2018–2019

| clubs4 = {{Rut|Melbourne Rising}}

| apps4 = 11

| points4 = 15

| years5 = 2023–

| clubs5 = {{Rut|Ealing Trailfinders}}

| apps5 =

| points5 =

| amatyears1 = 2011−

| amatteam1 = UWA

| amatapps1 = 92

| amatpoints1 =

| repyears1 = 2011

| repteam1 = {{nowrap|Australia 'A' Schools}}

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| repyears2 = 2017

| repteam2 = Australia

| repcaps2 = 2

| reppoints2 = 0

| repyears3 = 2022–

| repteam3 = Namibia

| repcaps3 = 7

| reppoints3 = 0

| clubupdate = 24 October 2023

| repupdate = 24 October 2023

}}

Richard Hardwick (born 31 May 1994) is a Namibian professional rugby union player who plays for the Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship and Namibia as a loose forward. He previously played for the {{Rut|Western Force}} and the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby, while he played for {{Rut|Perth Spirit}} and Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship.

Early life

Hardwick was born in Namibia, but raised in Western Australia. He attended Churchlands Senior High School in Perth and was selected for the Australia 'A' Schoolboys team in 2011. Hardwick earned his stripes playing for University of Western Australia in the local Premier Grade (1st Grade) competition. He previously played in the Juniors for UWA. In addition he spent two years with the Future Force squad preparing to become a Super Rugby player.

Rugby career

Named as a member of the Force's wider training group ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season, Hardwick didn't have to wait long for his debut, arriving as it did in a match away to the {{Rut|Highlanders}} at the end of March. He made two starts and two substitute appearances during the season.{{cite web | url=https://www.westernforce.com.au/article/force-name-side-clash-form-highlanders | title=Force name side for clash with in-form Highlanders | publisher=Rugby WA | date=30 March 2016 | accessdate=14 August 2016 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330113842/https://www.westernforce.com.au/article/force-name-side-clash-form-highlanders | archivedate=30 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}

Hardwick won the Phil Waugh Medal in the grand final of the 2016 National Rugby Championship for his man of the match performance on the way to Perth Spirit's first NRC title win.

In late 2017 Hardwick signed with the {{Rut|Rebels}}, along with fellow Wallabies teammates, Bill Meakes and Matt Philip. Hardwick signed a two-year deal which will take him through the 2019 World Cup.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/11/15/rebels-philip-hardwick-meakes-adams-signings| title=Test trio sign with Rebels | publisher=Rugby.com.au | accessdate=18 November 2017}}

Super Rugby statistics

{{updated|3 June 2023|{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_33011.html | title=Richard Hardwick itsrugby Player Statistics | publisher=itsrugby | accessdate=14 August 2016}}}}

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Sub	Mins	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Points	Yel	Red
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;"
2016	{{Rut \|t=Force \|tan=Western Force}}	4	2	2	193	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2017	{{Rut \|t=Force \|tan=Western Force}}	15	7	8	757	2	0	0	0	10	1	0
2018	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	8	1	7	207	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	12	8	4	634	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2020	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	6	4	2	286	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
2020 AU	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	9	6	3	511	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021 AU	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	8	7	1	521	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021 TT	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	5	3	2	225	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2022	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	10	6	4	489	2	0	0	0	10	0	0
2023	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	9	9	0	651	5	0	0	0	25	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total \|\| 86 \|\| 53 \|\| 35 \|\| 4,474 \|\| 10 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 50 \|\| 1 \|\| 0