Robert Richards (born 22 September 1971 in Ballarat, Victoria) is an Australian former lightweight rower.

In the four years he rowed for Australia at the premier world regatta he won a medal each time.

[2] Richards first represented Australia in the lightweight eight at the Aiguebelette 1997 where the Australians won a thrilling final by 0.03 seconds with only 1.5 lengths separating the field.

[1] For Cologne 1998 and then at St Catharine's 1999 Richards stroked the Australian lightweight coxless four with his Ballarat team-mate Anthony Edwards, Darren Balmforth and the Tasmanian champion Simon Burgess.

Both races were a superb highlight of the regatta and won Richards Olympic silver in his last Australian representative appearance.