Richard followed his family tradition, becoming a noted rugby union player and a civil servant clerk.

[4] Living in Devonport, Wynyard was part of the North Shore Rugby Club and won selection for Auckland when aged only 20.

Wynyard was then selected to be part of the professional All Blacks 1907-08 tour of Australia and Great Britain alongside his brother Billy.

Wynyard had to resign his government job to be part of the tour, but the move paid off as he ended up playing in all eight test matches.

Richard committed suicide in 1915 in Auckland by cutting his throat; he was despondent as he had been unable to find work as a clerk, and the coroner’s verdict was temporary insanity.