An era ends in Newcastle today when Dean Richards takes charge of his final home game as a top-flight rugby boss.
Twenty four years after first being appointed as Director of Rugby by Leicester, he presides over his 683rd match against those same Tigers.
“He won’t want anyone talking about him above the game,” warned Dave Walder, who steps up from head coach to succeed Richards this summer.
“He has played as big a role here as his character would suggest, kept the club going through some pretty tough times over the years.
“But he won’t want anyone making a big scene. He’ll just want to merge off quietly. That’s the way he does it.”
Richards, 58, will be remembered for his role in Bloodgate, the faking of a blood injury during his time at Harlequins, which led to his resignation and a three-year coaching ban.
That could have tarnished his career forever, instead 13 years on he remains one of the game’s most loved characters.
“I remember the first time I met Dean,” said Joe Marler, Harlequins’ England prop.
“It was my first week at the club he could have sacked me for midweek drinking and then getting beat up by a load of bouncers on a Wednesday night.
“But because I got beat up trying to defend a friend he chose just to scare me a little bit before saying, ‘I’m slapping you on the wrist but actually congratulating you for sticking up for your team mate'.
“It was quite an experience for me, as a young 17-year old, to have a legend of the sport treat me like that.”
Austin Healey, who played under Richards at Leicester, recalled how in his first week at the club he was sent with ‘Deano’ to conduct a coaching session in Norwich.
“We met this guy called Smokie, a real huge fella,” recalled Healey. “We had a few beers and a curry, then Smokie started challenging people to arm wrestles.
“Now I may not be the biggest bloke in the world but arm wrestling is my speciality - and Dean knew this. He looked at Smokie and said ‘my money’s on this little fella. If he does you can pay for everyone’s curry. hat do you say?’
“Smokie laughed.. for about five seconds. Then he got rather annoyed as I slammed his arm down onto the table and Dean dissolved into hysterics.”
Richards, evidently, enjoys the lighter side of life but he also cares passionately for his rugby and those involved in it with him.
“I’ve been doing it for 25 years or so and it’s been a long haul,” said the former policeman, who was named director of rugby of the season in 2018 after steering Falcons into the top-four end of season play-offs.
“At the same time, I’m still keen as mustard and still enjoy the sport and the match days more than anything.”
There is no better example than the times when snow threatened games at Newcastle.
Time and again Richards would be out with his shovel, leading the effort to clear the pitch - before making bacon sandwiches for one and all.
