sufficient game time, Parks returned to Wales for the 2007–08 season with the Newport Gwent Dragons. Newport Gwent Dragons Parks tore his knee ligaments in the Boxing Day derby against Cardiff Blues, marking the start of a long line of injuries, which ultimately led to his retirement from rugby. Early in his second season with the Dragons, Parks injured his shoulder in a tackle. Unaware of the severity of the injury, Richard continued to play and then had an operation over Christmas to repair his shoulder. He returned to action at the beginning of the year but his shoulder problem reoccurred. It was at this point, in May 2009 and after of trying many different courses of treatment to repair his shoulder, Richard was advised the damage to his shoulder was irreversible and following the second operation on his shoulder that year, he was advised he should not play rugby anymore. He had made 30 appearances for the Dragons. Richard retired from rugby on 26 May 2009 aged 31. 737 Challenge and other expeditions Following his retirement from rugby, Parks embarked on a challenge to climb the highest mountain on each of the world's 7 continents and complete the Three Poles Challenge within 7 months. On 12 December 2010, Parks left Cardiff on the centenary of the departure of the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, led by Robert Falcon Scott, from that city. Parks was joined on parts of his 737 Challenge by Olympic rower Steve Williams and Marie Curie nurse Janet Suart. He completed each leg of the 737 Challenge on the following dates: Leg 1: The South Pole – 27 December 2010, 6.10 am GMT Leg 2: Mount Vinson – 8 January 2011 Leg 3: Aconcagua – 5 February 2011, 5.54 pm GMT Leg 4: Kilimanjaro – 27 February 2011, 4.57 am GMT Leg 5: Carstensz Pyramid – 15 March 2011, 11.28 pm GMT Leg 6: The North Pole – 11 April 2011, 2.20 pm BST Leg 7: Everest – 25 May 2011, 2.57 am BST Leg 8: Denali – 30 June 2011, 8.08 am BST Leg 9: Elbrus – 12 July 2011, 8.53 am BST On 12 July 2011 he completed his challenge, finishing more than two weeks ahead of his self-imposed 7-month deadline. He completed his 737 Challenge in a record setting 06 Months, 11 Days, 07 Hours and 53 Minutes and set a new benchmark in