Anna Richards MNZM

Anna Richards may well be the greatest female rugby player ever to play for New Zealand. She won 49 caps, in a stellar playing career that spanned almost two decades of continuous service, from 1990-2008. In total, she made 54 appearances for New Zealand and was on the losing side only twice. The four-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner played in every minute of the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 finals. She also played in the 1991 tournament when New Zealand lost in the semi-finals. Upon graduating from Canterbury University, where she first took up rugby, Richards also enjoyed a highly-decorated provincial career with Auckland Storm. She was a key member of the team that went unbeaten from 1994-2005, capturing numerous titles along the way. She also played club rugby in Italy and England.