Visiting Star: Sean Richardson

Another game against Batley in 2006 brought another Visiting Star article - this time the much travelled Sean Richardson.

Today’s visiting star is Batley second-rower Sean Richardson.


Richardson is no stranger to the Coliseum, having spent a season with Leigh in 2003. He is also one of the most experienced players around when it comes to Grand Finals at this level, having appeared for Wakefield, Dewsbury and Widnes on the winning side and just last year he was in the second row as Batley managed to stave off the threat of relegation with a dramatic 28-26 NL1 Qualifying Final win over Dewsbury.

Sean is now in his 14th season in the professional ranks and has played more than 250 career games since he was first signed by Featherstone Rovers in 1993. In two seasons with Rovers, Richardson made just one first team appearance before moving onto Castleford.

During the Centenary season Richardson made three substitute appearances for the Tigers and followed this up with another seven as Castleford moved into the Super League era. The following season saw Richardson start pretty well but the Tigers form was poor and with relegation on the mind of everyone at the Jungle, Richardson made a surprise mid season move to Widnes. The Vikings were in a state of transition on and off the field with work beginning on the site of their old Naughton Park ground. Sean played 9 games, scoring 3 tries. Two of those came in a 50-10 play-off defeat against Rochdale played in Runcorn at Canal Street. The game also saw a try for ex-Great Britain international Steve Hampson and Jamie Bloem kicked six goals before a crowd of just 893.

Widnes retained their First Division status by the skin of their teeth with previous season runners-up Huddersfield being promoted to Super League after the loss of Paris St Germaine. Richardson played in 13 games for Widnes during the season and enjoyed a superb game against Wakefield at the Halton Stadium. A pulsating game saw fortunes fluctuate and Sean scored two of the Vikings three tries before Widnes eventually lost 20-30.

It was enough to alert Trinity to Richardson’s talents and Sean returned across the Pennines to play for the Wildcats. He was a substitute in Wakefield’s 24-22 Grand Final success over Featherstone Rovers and played full part as a try five minutes from time by current Hull KR prop Francis Stephenson, converted by Australian Garen Casey nudged them back in front. It is interesting to note that one of Sean’s team-mates that day was current Leigh centre Adam Hughes. The game was played at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium with a crow of 8,224 in attendance.

Following the Wildcats promotion, Richardson was rewarded with a Super League contract for the following season. Sean was used sparingly by Wakefield and joined Dewsbury Rams midway through their 1999 season. He played in nine games at the back-end of the campaign adding an important score in a 24-24 draw at Keighley. He made an even bigger contribution five weeks later, scoring one of only two tries as the Rams carved out a narrow 10-6 success over Hunslet Hawks. Two wins later, the Rams were crowned Minor Premiers and set up an interesting play-off clash with Widnes. The Vikings were no match for Dewsbury that day as a near capacity crowd of 3,210 roared the Rams to a convincing 28-6 win. Richardson was again a substitute in the Grand Final played at Headingley. A tight and competitive game was just edged 12-11 by Hunslet but Rugby League politics robbed the Hawks of promotion.

2000 finally saw Richardson settle into regular first team action. He turned in some top notch performances along the way, scoring 14 tries in 37 appearances. Sean proved a scourge of former club Widnes as the Rams again bundled the Vikings out in a knock-out game, winning 29-16 in the Challenge Cup. He also scored two tries weeks later as Leigh edged a classic encounter by 22-18 and again claimed a brace in a big 72-13 win over Lancashire Lynx. The Rams went virtually unbeaten at home after that game with Leigh and Richardson was on the scoresheet when they clashed with previous season champions Hunslet. The game was a mismatch with Dewsbury easing to a 46-0 win over a side that eventually limped to 15th position.

Although the Rams lost in surprising fashion to 12-man Leigh in the play-offs, there was plenty of spirit left and Dewsbury finished the Grand Final aspirations of Featherstone and Keighley before winning a Gigg Lane nail-biter, 13-12 before a crowd of 8,487.

The Rams were denied promotion and a break-up of the team, like with Hunslet 12 months earlier began to happen around mid-season. Coach Neil Kelly moved to Widnes and he was to return to his former club within days to prise Richard Agar, Richardson and Matthew Long away. Before leaving Ram Stadium, Richardson was ever present and scored four tries including one in a narrow 20-18 success over Swinton.

Richardson then scored a try on his second debut for Widnes but it wasn’t to be a winner as Leigh won through 26-22 in a game that will long be remembered for Neil Turley’s wonderful 65 metre solo try. It was to be the only time that Richardson would taste defeat again in 2001 as the Vikings went from strength to strength to secure second spot. June was a profitable month for Sean as he scored a tries in successive games with Batley (one), Chorley (two) and York (two). Widnes were the form team leading into the play-offs and wins over Rochdale and Leigh secured another Grand Final appearance for Richardson. Tries from Jason Demetriou (2), Steve Gee, Phil Cantillon and Damian Munro secured a 24-14 win over Oldham, a victory that was more emphatic than the scoreline suggests.

It signalled a return to Super League for the Vikings and their first crack at the top division since 1995. Neil Kelly kept the nucleus of his Grand Final team together and Richardson was rewarded with a Super League contract for 2002.

Some shrewd acquisitions, including a prize signature of Dewsbury scrum-half Barry Eaton, helped Kelly form a successful squad and the Vikings finished well clear of relegation in their first season back. Sean played in 21 games that season but started only two. His only try of the campaign came in the Vikings narrow 16-22 defeat to Bradford Bulls in front of 8,844 screaming fans.

Widnes opted not to retain Richardson for 2003 and Paul Terzis stepped in, looking to make it third time lucky as far as Grand Finals and Leigh went. Sean took his place in an exciting squad that also reunited him with fellow Grand Final winner Damian Munro. The Centurions later added to their squad when they clinched the signatures of former Lance Todd Trophy winning pair Leroy Rivett and Tommy Martyn.

Sean was an ever-present for the Centurions in 2003, starting 35 of the 36 games. He also added 8 tries. His first came on a historic night when Leigh defeated Russian champions Locomotiv Moscow 62-0 in the Challenge Cup. It was a season that saw Leigh clash seven times with relegated Salford and Richardson was one of three try-scorers in an exciting 20-20 draw with the Reds. Sean’s most important try for Leigh came when an injury hit Centurions selection travelled to Whitehaven. Few predicted anything other than a Whitehaven win but the Centurions excelled and won 20-8. Sean played on the losing side as Leigh went down in the Arriva Final to Salford. The Centurions showed good resilience after this to fight to the Grand Final and although Richardson scored one of the Centurions three tries they were soundly beaten 31-14 by Salford again.

Richardson then linked with Batley, and has represented the Bulldogs for the last three seasons. He showed in 2004 that he was still among the top second rowers in the National League with 12 tries and whilst last season and this have not been as prolific, Sean is still a handy player and one to look out for today.

Since the article was penned history will show that Richardson continued to represent Batley until March 2008 when he joined Leigh for a second time and played a ten game first team farewell as a prop forward before hanging his playing boots up.

It was in the Centurions Reserve side however, that Richardson’s influence shone strong with both John Cookson and Matt Astley making it into the first team.