Fussell, Richard

Hailing from the mountain-top village of Bedlinog, Richard moved down to nearby Nelson to play his junior rugby.

Having represented Ebbw Vale at youth level, Richard elected to join up with the thriving Pontypridd Academy in 2001, with international honours for Wales at under 17, under 18 and under 19 levels to his name.

Turning in some eye catching performances as a fleet footed, try scoring winger, Richard's rise to the top tier of Welsh rugby was now gathering pace. Called up to the Ponty senior squad towards the end of the 2002/03 season, Richard justified his promotion with an impressive tally of five touchdowns in five appearances.

Having cemented his place in the Ponty senior squad, Richard's great promise was backed up by an invitation to train with the late Celtic Warriors regional set up. Richard Fussell went on to register twenty-one touchdowns for Pontypridd in his forty-six appearances for the club.

Richard left Ponty in the 2005 close season to pursue a career with the Newport Gwent Dragons regional entity.