Richard Blaze originally a Basket Ball player for the Midlands, was a late comer to the game of rugby. Spotted by Mosley and North midlands development coaches, he rapidly progressed through county and divisional level Rugby under 18s. He was a product of the Worcester Warriors academy alongside Dylan Hartley and Callum Black.
Playing career
Blaze made his premiership debut in April 2005 for Worcester Warrior against Newcastle and due to his "enforcer" style presence was the first player from Worcester academy to gain a professional contract at Worcester. In 2007, he signed for Leicester Tigers. In the years that followed Leicester Tigers won two Premiership titles. In the 2009 Premiership final Leicester beat London Irish 10–9, and Tigers retained their title the following year as they defeated Saracens 33–27. After an historic placing kicking competition decided the 2009 Heineken cup semi-final, Leicester lost the 2009 Heineken Cup Final to Irish province Leinster.
International career
Blaze represented England thirty one times at age group level. Gaining four Under 18s Caps in 2003 and seven under 19s caps 2004. He gained further twenty under 21s Caps across 2005-6: Playing all 21 games over two seasons. This included age group Grand Slam and successful U21 Grand Slam campaign. Blaze represented England Saxons at the 2007 Churchill Cup and 2008 Churchill Cup. Blaze, known for his exceptional work at the line out was called up to Martin Johnson's England squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals. Blaze missed much of 2009–10 season due to a foot injury. In a disappointing turn of events after having been picked for 's Elite Squad as a replacement for Simon Shaw. Blaze retired on 21 October 2010 after suffering a foot injury.
Coaching
Blaze started his coaching career at Leicester Tigers in 2010, as an assistant forwards coach to the first team and Head Coach to seconds Team. Alongside Richard Cockerill, Matt O'Connor and Paul Burke. As a coaching team they went on to win two English Championships, in 2010 season and again in 2013. Tigers also reached Premiership finals in 2011 and 2012, narrowly missing out to Saracens and Harlequins respectively. In 2011–12 as Head Coach of the seconds team Blaze coached the Tigers to LV Cup Title 2012 LV Cup, which they then repeated in 2017 2016/17. In 2015 Richard was appointed as First Team Forwards coach, under Head coaches Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger. In 2017 Richard Blaze stood down from his position has 1st Team forwards coach to explore new challenges and was quickly made academy coach for Leicester Tigers and England Under 20s Forward Coach. As an academy coach Blaze was a part of the coaching team at Leicester Tigers that coached the academy to their first championship and are currently the National Academy Champions. As England Under 20s Forwards Coach Blaze, coached the side though an Under-20 Six Nations and Under-20 Rugby World Cup. Making into the Final of the World Cup, narrowly missing out to France in the final, in France. Richard Blaze is currently the Forwards and Defence Coach for the England Women's First Team. After completing a successful autumn international period, they had gone on to become grand slam champions of 2019.
