On this day in 1982 Richard Mathers was born in Leeds. Richard first showed signs of becoming a great Leeds player when he was part of the Academy side -featuring in three consecutive Academy Grand Final wins, and it was former Leeds Academy Coach David Plange who took him on loan to Warrington Wolves where he made eight Super League appearances. He returned to Leeds later that year and an impressive debut against St Helens. He followed this up a fortnight later scoring his first try at Headingley against London and made two subsequent appearances including the crucial Play off game against Hull. Richard earned himself a place in the Rhinos first team squad at the start of 2003 and such was his form that the Rhinos allowed Great Britain star Gary Connolly to return to Wigan. In 2004 he was named Yorkshire Evening Post Shooting Star winner after, after only missing four games all season. He is renowned for his incredible enthusiasm for the game and Leeds Rhinos, having supported the club since he was a boy. Richard played in the Grand Final in 2004, was try scorer in the Carnegie World Club Challenge against Canterbury at his beloved Elland Road and also started in this season's Powergen Challenge Cup Final and Grand Final. He only missed one game for the Rhinos in 2004 and scored 17 tries in 34 games, his best ever season. In total he has made 79 appearances for Leeds including 2 as a substitute scoring 25 tries.