Dean Richards

Leicester Tigers icon, England number eight, and one of rugby's most decorated coaches

Rugby

The story

Big, bearded and deceptively quick for his size, Dean Richards was the kind of number eight forwards coaches dream about. He won almost everything there was to win on both sides of the whitewash.

He spent his entire playing career at Leicester Tigers, appearing more than 300 times and winning three Courage League titles. At international level he earned 48 caps for England and played six Tests for the British and Irish Lions, touring Australia in 1989 and New Zealand in 1993. The 1991 Grand Slam and the 1992 back to back Five Nations triumphs were built on his quiet authority at the base of the scrum.

As a coach, Richards went on to even greater heights. He led Leicester to consecutive Heineken Cup titles in 2001 and 2002, making them the only club at the time to have successfully defended European rugby's biggest prize. Spells at Grenoble, Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons and most recently as Director of Rugby at Leicester brought further silverware and a reputation as one of the most respected operators in the professional era.

A Steam lunch with Dean Richards is a rare chance to hear one of rugby's genuine thinkers, a man who has built winning teams at almost every level of the English and European game.

Career highlights

  • 48 caps for England, 1986 to 1996
  • 6 Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions
  • 5 Nations Grand Slam winner, 1991
  • 3 Courage League titles with Leicester Tigers
  • Back to back Heineken Cup wins as Leicester coach, 2001 and 2002
  • Premiership title winning Director of Rugby with Newcastle and Leicester
  • MBE for services to rugby union

Book your next speaker event at Steam

Two decades of world class speakers in the basement at EC3. Want to book Dean Richards or someone like them? Tell us what you need and we will come back with a plan.

Start an enquiry