Richard Mark Harding (born 29 August 1953) is a former rugby union international who played for England, and on his last test captained them.
[3] Richard Harding played rugby union at school and whilst at Cambridge University earned a Blue.
[5] In the France game Harding is remembered for his tackle on Patrick Esteve when he knocked the ball out of his hands over the try line.
In 1986 he was not capped but returned to the team in 1987 when he was picked to replace the dropped Richard Hill following disciplinary action against the latter following the 1984 England-Wales match in Cardiff on 7 March.
Harding played in the final Five Nations match against Scotland and found himself as first choice for the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.
[6] However he soon found himself relegated to third choice scrum-half, behind Hill (making a comeback to the side) and Dewi Morris, who made his debut in the home match against Australia in 1988, and Harding could not force his way back into the England reckoning again.