Richard Mathers

Playing career

Richard first started off his rugby league career at amateur rugby league club Milford Marlins. Richard is one of numerous players who has risen through the ranks at Leeds. A star of the Academy, with whom he played in two consecutive Grand Final wins with, he broke into the first team at the end of 2002 after a loan spell with Warrington Wolves.

Leeds

After making seven appearances with Warrington Richard rejoined Leeds, scoring a try in just his second appearance. The following season Richard became a first team regular and his form in 2004 was such that Leeds allowed former Wigan star Gary Connolly to depart. He ended that year with many predicting that the fullback would be a star for Leeds for many years to come and not only was he named the Evening Post Shooting Star winner after only missing four games all season he was also part of the Leeds Grand Final-winning squad. Mathers played for the Leeds Rhinos at fullback in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls.

By 2005 Richard was promoted to the number one shirt and was one of the first names on the team sheet, only missing one game all season. One of the highlights of the years was when he helped the team to victory in the Centenary 2005 World Club Challenge when he scored a try against Bulldogs at his beloved Elland Road. Mathers played for the Leeds Rhinos at fullback in their 2005 Challenge Cup Final loss against Hull F.C.. Mathers played for the Leeds Rhinos at fullback in their 2005 Super League Grand Final loss against Bradford Bulls. However, in the middle of the 2006 season, Richard injured his knee against Hull at Headingley, which not only ended his season but Leeds career. In 2007, he made his début for the new NRL team Gold Coast Titans.

Gold Coast

Richard did not play for the Gold Coast Titans for much of the start of the season, but an injury to regular full-back Preston Campbell allowed Richard to make his début for the Titans. Richard played five rounds and appeared to be gaining confidence and good form until he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. This injury was similar to the injury that occurred while he was playing for Leeds and kept him out for the rest of the season. Mathers team-mates offered to pay for Richard to travel home before he begins the long road to recovery. On 6 November 2007, the Titans released Mathers from his contract and a few hours later Wigan announced that they had signed Richie on a three-year contract. He only played five matches for the Titans due to rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee which required a full knee reconstruction.

Wigan

Wigan had a full-back vacancy following the departure of Chris Ashton to rugby union and the retirement of Michael Withers, although Pat Richards did a sterling job for Wigan during the last two months of the 2007 season. Mathers made his début in the 42–18 win over Widnes in a friendly scoring two tries. Mathers scored a try in a 47–28 win at Harlequins on his Super League début for Wigan but was sent off for the first time in his career in Round 5 against Warrington for a high tackle on Matt King, for which he received a three-match ban. He filled in at stand-off on his return to the side against Wakefield Trinity in Round 9 before reverting to his usual position of full-back. However, Mathers was red-carded again in Round 25 for leading with an elbow as he attempted to fend off Wakefield's Jason Demetriou, although Wigan still won 32–22 to secure a play-off place. Mathers was the only player to be sent off twice during 2008's Super League XIII. Richard Mathers was married to Sasha Darnbrough on 2 January 2009 at Rudding Park. Mathers was sin-binned during Wigan's opening game of 2009's Super League XIV for a trip on Wakefield winger Dave Halley. He was cited by the Rugby Football League and received a two-match suspension, ruling him out of games against Hull and Castleford.

Warrington signed Mathers on 6 April 2009, with Martin Gleeson going the other way to Wigan, plus a six figure transfer fee to Warrington.

Warrington

Mathers had to wait more than a month for his Warrington debut, when he scored twice against Featherstone Rovers in a Challenge Cup tie on 10 May 2009 and scored the first try in the Challenge Cup Final for Warrington. Mathers played for Warrington in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over Leeds.

Castleford

Richie joined Castleford for the 2011 season after he signed a three-year deal with the Yorkshire club. He made 22 Super League appearances for the team before being loaned out to Wakefield Trinity for the 2012 season.

Wakefield

Richie joined Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for the 2012 season.

London

On 7 August, Kingstone Press Championship side London Broncos announced the signing of Mathers on a 2-year deal starting from 2015.

Mathers made his London Broncos début in a 26–22 win against Doncaster at The Hive.

In August 2015, Mathers was given a controversial six-month ban after a betting rules breach. A fortnight later he announced his retirement mainly due to the ban.

Bradford

Richie announced he was coming out of retirement and signed a 1 Year Deal with the Bradford Bulls.

2016 - 2016 Season

Mathers did not feature in any pre-season games.

He featured in Round 1 (Featherstone Rovers) to Round 2 (Whitehaven) then in Round 4 (Leigh Centurions). He played in Round 6 (Batley Bulldogs) to Round 8 (Halifax). Mathers featured in Round 15 (Leigh Centurions) to Round 16 (Dewsbury Rams).

Mathers retired once again midway through the 2016 season.

Statistics do not include pre-season friendlies.