the following season, and in 2001 Parks represented the Welsh Sevens in the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Argentina. Pontypridd won the Principality Cup in 2002 and reached the Parker Pen Shield final losing 22 – 25 to Sale Sharks. Many of the Pontypridd squad, including Parks, were called up to represent Wales on a tour to South Africa. It was here on tour versus South Africa in Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein that 24-year-old Parks earned his first full international cap on 8 June 2002, in a 34–19 defeat, from the bench. He became the 1001st player to represent Wales. During the next season Richard was selected for the autumn international series where he gained his second cap against Fiji. A final season at Pontypridd continued and Parks remained in the Welsh squad. He was named in the 6 Nations squad but did not feature on a match day. During the summer of 2003, he was selected in the preliminary World Cup squad and played warm-up games against Scotland and Ireland. However, Parks missed out on final section to the World Cup in Australia. Celtic Warriors Following the Introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales in 2003, Parks was signed to the newly formed Celtic Warriors. He played the whole of that new look 2003–04 season out of position at number 8 due to injuries in the squad, finishing with 19 appearances. Following the demise of the region after only one season, Parks joined the then Welsh head coach Phil Davies at Leeds Tykes. Leeds and Perpignan After a difficult start to the 2004–05 season through injury, Parks become an influential member of the Leeds squad and was at times named as vice captain. At the beginning of 2005 following injuries to key players, Leeds were bottom of the Zurich Premiership and some way adrift of their rivals. Despite the threat of relegation they made it to their first ever Powergen Cup final in 2005, defeating Bath 20–12 at Twickenham to claim their first ever trophy. Following the cup win they went on to win five straight games and avoided relegation finishing the season in eighth position. The following season saw the Tykes lose their first eight games in three different competitions, and were relegated at the end of the season. Parks subsequently signed for USA Perpignan for the 2006–07 season. However, due to a failure to gain