Thomas James "Rusty" Richards, MC (29 April 1882 – 25 September 1935)[2] was an Australian military officer and national representative rugby union player, who was born at Vegetable Creek, Emmaville in New South Wales.

[6] He subsequently travelled to England where he continued playing rugby in the county championships spending a season representing Bristol.

The tourist had picked up a number of injuries and Richards was drafted in to face his old team as he qualified to play through his membership with Bristol.

[9] He played at break-away in the sole Test of that tour - the November 1912 clash against the United States at Berkeley - and scored a try in that match.

Richards enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 26 August 1914 and in October sailed for Egypt on the Transport Euripides with the 1st Field Ambulance.

[2][10] With the conclusion of the Gallipoli Campaign in December 1915, he returned to Egypt and then in March 1916 left for the Western Front, when he was also appointed lance corporal.

[2] He left England in August 1918 and, after four months in South Africa en route, arrived in Sydney in February 1919 where his AIF appointment was terminated on 3 November.

Upon his induction Australian Rugby Union President Paul McLean commented: "late Tom Richards was an extraordinary character whom The Times described in 1908 as the first man to be picked for Earth if we were ever to play Mars!