the player
Richard Wills, or “Ritchie” as he was referred to by the press, started his first class career in 1958, playing for Newport Rugby Football Club at the age of 19. He joined illustrious company, as this side had in its ranks ten Welsh caps, five of whom where British Lions. These included such players as David Watkins, the Welsh and British Lions fly half, and Brian Price, the Welsh Captain and British Lion.
1962 saw Wills take English County honours playing in the County Championship final at Twickenham, for Hampshire. Playing alongside international half backs, English scrum half Steve Smith and Scottish fly half Tremayne Rod, they narrowly lost to Warwickshire. The same year he was selected to play for Captain Crawshey’s Welsh International XV alongside Hayden Mannering and Ian Ford.
The following year, Wills moved to Cardiff R.F.C, was selected for a Welsh trial, and played against Wilson Winnery’s touring New Zealand All Blacks, where Cardiff narrowly lost five points to six in front of a capacity crowd at Cardiff Arms Park.
He played four seasons with this side, which consisted of eleven players with Welsh caps and five British Lions including Keith Rowlands, currently Chief Executive of the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
During this time he played against and earned the respect of such players as Gareth Edwards, Barry John, and J.P.R Williams. Wills, as a flying winger, played a major part in C.R.F.C’s triumph at the Scottish Border 7’s being the competition’s top try scorer.
Wills had further international experience at Ebbw Vale R.F.C when he played against the touring Australian Wallabies in 1967. He also represented Glamorgan and Monmouthshire at a county level.
Throughout this period, he was gaining his art training and retired from rugby after ten years at a first class level, to channel his energy directly into being a professional artist. (see the artist).