1. How old were you when you started playing rugby?
11 years old. First year of secondary school at the local comprehensive in Billingshurst, Sussex. We had a Premiership ref called David Sainsbury (who is now a Premiership TMO) and he made sure the school had rugby teams as well as football teams.

2. What was your first rugby memory?
Scored a hat trick of tries in one of my first games versus Warden Park, local rivals from Hayward’s Heath. I was an 8 back then !!

3. Who was your role model and why?
James Chisholm. Plays 8 for Harlequins now and was 2 years ahead of me at school. He was rugby captain at Brighton College when I went there on a rugby scholarship and was also Harlequins U18 captain when I made my debut for them. He was also player of the tournament at the U20 Rugby World Cup for England. I had hoped to follow his path but sadly it didn’t work out !!

4. Can you remember your first training session with Billingham?
Yes !! Preseason training. Me, Lewis Roxby and Dom Mcalorum doing this crazy combination of laps, up downs and crawling for about an hour !! The most tiring thing I’ve ever done !!

5. What do you eat before a big match?
Full English cooked by my Dad ! Saturday tradition chez Richardson for Dad to cook brekkie on a Saturday !

6. Describe your perfect weekend.
W for Billingham Saturday afternoon, night out with my other half Saturday evening, win a golf tournament Sunday morning with my Dad, win 7s footie with my brother Sunday afternoon, slap up meal back home cooked by my Mum Sunday evening !! Lots of food and Ws !

7. What’s been your career highlight?
Joint top:
Playing in U20 county cup final for Durham at Twickenham (and receiving a special award for Durham Player of the Season afterwards from John Spencer, British Lions Manager)
Scoring a try and setting up a try for Harlequins U18s away to Saracens U18 at the Allianz and being named MoM for Quins after.
Lost both games though !!

8. What one tip would you give a young person looking to succeed ?
No substitute for a work ethic and practice - practice makes permanent.

9.What’s the next goal in your rugby career?
Easy. Promotion to Nat 2 with Billingham.

Good luck against Hull!

#OSIOS