James Richard "Richie" Blackmore (born 2 July 1969) is a rugby league coach,^[2] and former professional footballer who represented New Zealand. His position of preference was as a centre.^[1]

Early years

An Otahuhu junior, Blackmore also played rugby union until he was 21.^[3] He was regarded as a promising loose forward.^[4]

Castleford

Blackmore joined Castleford at the start of the 1991-92 season and quickly established himself in the team. He played 111 senior games for the club, leaving at the end of the 1994–1995 season. It was in Castleford that Blackmore had an off field incident with Tawera Nikau that resulted in Nikau refusing to play for the New Zealand national rugby league team if Blackmore was in the same team.^[5]

Richie Blackmore played at centre and scored a try in Castleford's 12–28 defeat by Wigan in the 1992 Challenge Cup Final during the 1991–92 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1992, in front of a crowd of 77,386.^[6]

Richie Blackmore played at centre in Castleford Tigers' 33–2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.^[7]

Auckland Warriors

Blackmore joined the new Auckland Warriors side in 1995, however he missed the opening rounds due to the overlap with the British season. As a result, he found it hard to secure a place in the starting line up and played only ten first grade games in 1995.

Blackmore played another seventeen games for the Auckland Warriors in 1996 before deciding to return to England.

Leeds Rhinos

Blackmore joined the Leeds Rhinos in 1997, joining the Super League competition. He played for Leeds Rhinos at centre, scoring their sole try in the 1998 Super League Grand Final loss to Wigan Warriors. He went on to play 45 first grade games for the club.

In mid-1999 Blackmore suffered a serious leg injury that kept him out for most of the season.^[8][9]

In 2000, while recovering from injury, Blackmore played rugby union for the Leeds Tykes against Sale in Round Four of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.^[3]

Return & Retirement

At the end of the 2000 season Blackmore signed a one-year deal with the renamed New Zealand Warriors who were looking for an experience back to help shape their youthful squad. Blackmore played eight first grade games for the club, before retiring at the end of the season.^[10]

He continued to play in the Auckland Rugby League competition, moving into the second row. In 2005 he was the player-coach of the Manurewa Marlins when they won the Fox Memorial. He retired properly at the end of that season, taking up the head coach position at Otahuhu in 2006.^[11]

International career

Richie Blackmore was a New Zealand international, making his début for the Kiwis in 1991. Blackmore represented the Kiwis in both the 1995 and 2000 Rugby League World Cups.

Coaching

After retiring from playing Blackmore remained involved with the Warriors, and was often seen running out water to the team during matches.

In 2006 Blackmore accepted a role as head coach of the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[12] He held this position until the end of 2010, leading the team to a Fox Memorial grand final victory over the Mt Albert Lions.^[13]

In 2008 Blackmore joined the New Zealand Māori team as assistant coach.^[14] He was co-coach in 2010 along with Mark Horo.

In 2011 Blackmore was appointed as head coach of the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup, and coached the team to the Grand Final.^[15]

In 2012 he was to be appointed coach of the Leigh Centurions, however visa concerns meant he was instead appointed as the club's Business Development Manager, starting his position in April 2012.^[16]

In 2014 he coached the Papakura Sea Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[17] He coached Auckland in 2015.^[18]