Richard John Ackland (born 2 August 1958) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, coach in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and scout in the 2000s, and former cricketer in the 1980s, who works for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.

In 1981, he won the Lipscombe Cup while playing in the Auckland Rugby League competition for Mt Albert.

[6] In 1983, he made his one and only appearance for the New Zealand national rugby league team, coming off the bench against Papua New Guinea.

[7] Ackland also played first-class cricket for Auckland, as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler.

[10] In 2023, he had the honour of being the first head coach of the Mt Albert Mad Dogs Open Age restricted weight team.