Born in 1882 in Vegetable Creek, now Emmaville, in northern New South Wales, Thomas (Tom or Rusty) James Richards was playing rugby union in Charters Towers, Queensland when he was selected in the 1908–09 Australian squad, the First Wallabies.
The Australian Olympic Committee acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we are located. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.
We celebrate and honour all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians.
The Australian Olympic Committee is committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society and sport.
