Patrick (or Pat) Rich is an English former professional rugby league footballer who represented the Oldham ( Heritage No. 1095) in the Northern Ford Premiership (later National League One in the National Leagues).

Playing career

Started his career as an amateur playing for Durham Tigers RLFC in the North-East of England, outside of the sport's traditional heartland. He played stand off for the club who had some success as a junior side in the early 90s dominating the other junior teams in the North East and also having successful forays against Yorkshire teams. He began his senior professional career as loose forward at Keighley Cougars, Pat subsequently moved to Oldham where his biggest impact came during the 2001 season and, in particular, his contribution with the boot which helped his side to the Northern Ford Premiership semi-final win 39–32 over Rochdale Hornets when he kicked nine out of nine goal attempts. In the Grand Final he was unable to secure the points needed with Neil Kelly's Widnes Vikings running out victors 24–12. During his first spell at Oldham, Pat was the club's most consistent goal kicker since the 1960s. At various times he held a number of club records including, goals in a season (146, 2000 to 2001) goals in a career (303, 1999 to 2004) and points in a career (682, 1999 to 2004).Oldham Rugby League Heritage Trust - Club Honours & Records
/ref> After a short period at Oldham, Pat left the North Western club to pursue a career in the law. Although he returned for brief spells with

Sheffield Eagles The Sheffield Eagles are a professional rugby league club that play in the Championship (rugby league), Betfred Championship. The club play their home games at the Olympic Legacy Park (OLP) on the former site of Don Valley Stadium, their forme ...

, London Skolars, and finally Oldham for some 14 games in 2004, he no longer plays competitive

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

. Rich's seven-year-long record for points scored for Roughyeds in a single season (320) was eventually beaten by

Mick Nanyn Mick Nanyn (born 3 June 1982) is a former Scotland national rugby league team, Scotland international rugby league footballer. He played as a and was a specialist Goal (sport)#Rugby football, goal-kicker. He set point scoring records at severa ...

(362) in 2008. In 79 appearances (2 as substitute) he scored 682 points (303 goals and 19 tries).

References

External links

Oldham R.L.F.C. Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rich, Patrick Living people English rugby league players Keighley Cougars players London Skolars players Oldham R.L.F.C. players Place of birth missing (living people) Rugby league centres Rugby league wingers Sheffield Eagles players Year of birth missing (living people)