2020-21 KEVIN HIGGINS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: ANTHONY RICHARDSON OF SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA
2020-21 KEVIN HIGGINS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
ANTHONY RICHARDSON
SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA
Anthony Richardson credits rugby for giving him a new lease on life. At a time when his health was wavering, Richardson was invited to come out to a 7s practice and instantly fell in love. While he knew nothing about the game and was not physically prepared for the game’s demands, he knew that he had found his place of refuge. Richardson began his rugby career with Land Park Motely where he learned the fundamentals of the game and what it meant to be a rugger. He would move on to play for Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California as a four-year varsity starter and the first freshman to letter in rugby.
During his senior season he served as team captain. He began to train with Rhino Rugby Academy and had the opportunity to advance his game in many tournaments including the Las Vegas 15s Invitational and South Africa World Schools Festival in 2018 and 2019, and the Portugal Youth Rugby Festival and Rocky Mountain Challenge in 2019. His natural talent and exposure landed him an invite to the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy where he would participate in the EIRA 2018 Invitational Winter Camp and the Ireland Tour in both 2018 and 2019. In addition, he would be named to the U18 USA Rugby All-American Winter Camp in 2019.
Anthony’s commitment of holding himself to a high level of play and character is what sets him apart from the rest. “Anthony is an exceptional young man, with a character set that is increasingly rare in our society. He is a man in charge of himself in all regards, and consistently strives to set new standards of excellence on a daily basis. Anthony has very literally saved his own life – molding himself from an out of shape youth, to a high school athlete, to an international U18 rugby player, 100% by his own efforts and he now deserves to see the fruits of his labor,” said Brad Richard, USA U18 Boys High School All-American Assistant Coach.
Anthony will continue his academic and athletic career at Saint Mary’s College of California. He describes the opportunity as a dream come true and is eager to dedicate his time and efforts to becoming the best student and athlete possible. He hopes to take his career to the next level upon completing college and dreams of one day suiting up for the United States Eagles and playing professionally in Europe, South Africa, or New Zealand.
Ultimately, it is his goal to give back to the sport of rugby and influence other young people to get out on the pitch. Outside of rugby, Anthony intends on majoring in kinesiology with the career goal of becoming a physical therapist. On his own personal journey to becoming physically fit, he learned a variety of life lessons that inspired him to want to one day share and help others to do the same.
