Richard Hibbard

Date of Birth: 13/12/1983
Height: 6ft
Weight: 17st 13lbs
Caps: 9

Richard Hibbard is one of the two main hookers at the Ospreys rugby region, sharing the role with Huw Bennett. Considered a great prospect by many in both the Ospreys and Wales Hibbard is currently trying to force himself as first choice in the Ospreys front row, whilst also getting passed British Lion Matthew Rees at international level.

Hibbard started his professional career with Swansea, swiftly being called up to the Ospreys. He then won his first cap on the Argentina tour in 2006.

His game is based around a very physical style, being a quality ball carrier – a huge benefit to Welsh sides that can, at times, lack players with the strength and mentality to go toe to toe with bigger packs. Richard Hibbard is far from backwards in taking on opponents with his strength and size – best seen in the 2008 Wales tour of South Africa where, coming off the bench, he took on two South Africans in a fight before being sin binned. It sounds bad but at the time the South Africans were dominating up front and someone mixing it with aggression stopped them being so dominant.

There is a suspicion he needs to lose some weight to be truly effective – Wales have often played best with the more ‘loose forward’ style hooker such as Matthew Rees. But the advantages of his size in the tight and scrums are not to be sniffed at.

Whilst 25 the fact is that front rowers tend to improve later in life and so Richard Hibbard can still be considered a top class prospect – and certainly one I feel that could go on to become a Welsh regular in a year or two. At the very least he should put real pressure on Matthew Rees’ new found control of the Welsh number 2 shirt.

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