Richard Hibbard Announces Retirement
- 1625
Dragons, Wales and British & Irish Lions Richard Hibbard has today announced his retirement from professional rugby. Hibbz has issued the following statement:
💪🏼😀🏉😢💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/OBS3bfMOjw
— Richard Hibbard (@richardhibbard2) January 21, 2022
Hibbard started off playing rugby league at Glan Afan Comprehensive School but his switch to union saw him become a professional as he made his Ospreys debut in 2004.
He had previously represented Taibach, Aberavon and Swansea RFC before a brief stint in rugby league with the now-defunct Aberavon Fighting Irish.
Continued great form with Ospreys saw Hibbard earn a call up to the Welsh national squad earning his test debut off the bench against Argentina in 2006.
Hibbard was called into Warren Gatland's squad for the two-Test series in South Africa in the summer of 2008 before retaining his place for the 2008 autumn internationals, starting against Canada.
He signed for Gloucester in 2014, ending a 10-year stint at the Ospreys which saw him amass 175 appearances and 50 points. During his time with Gloucester saw Hibbard make 73 Premiership appearances for the Cherry Whites starting 62 times and scored 7 tries.
In December 2017, Hibbard announced that he would be leaving Gloucester at the end of the 2017-18 season to join Welsh region, Dragons, on a three-year deal.
