Richard David Parks (born 14 August 1977) is a former Wales international rugby union player turned extreme endurance athlete and television presenter. In rugby he represented Newport RFC, Pontypridd RFC, Celtic Warriors, Leeds Tykes, Perpignan and Newport Gwent Dragons over a professional career which spanned 13 years. In May 2009 he was forced to retire from rugby due to a shoulder injury. Early years Parks was born on 14 August 1977 in Pontypridd to a Jamaican mother, Lee, and a Welsh father, Derek Parks. Richard grew up in Newport, Wales and attended Rougemont School, Newport and Monmouth School. Richard first started playing Rugby at the age of 11 at Rougemont School and progressed quickly through the school ranks playing at flanker throughout. He was selected for Welsh Schools at under 18 level and then had a brief spell with Newport youth before spending a year in South Africa in 1996 at Michaelhouse, a boarding school for senior boys in Durban. Richard competed for the first team at Michaelhouse whilst he studied A-level chemistry in order to gain entry to Cardiff University to study Dentistry. Whilst in South Africa, Richard was invited to join the Natal Under 19s academy but this would have involved committing to attend university in South Africa. Richard always had the desire to play for Wales, therefore he chose to return home to take a contract up with Newport Rugby Football Club, and sign his first professional contract as a rugby player. Newport RFC In his first year at Newport RFC (1996–97) he was selected to play for the Welsh sevens team in Tokyo, Japan and in his second year at the age of 20 years, Richard was called up to train with the Welsh senior team. At the end of this season (1997–98) Richard was voted most promising player of the year by his club winning the Arthur Boucher Award. Park's 3rd season with Newport RFC saw him struck down with injury. He missed most of the season after suffering a stress fracture of his spine. Breaking his back resulted in Richard missing the opportunity to gain Welsh honours at an under 21 level. After taking longer to recover than anticipated Richard was released from his contract at Newport RFC after 62 appearances and finished the season playing University Rugby for Cardiff Meds. Pontypridd and playing for Wales Parks was subsequently signed by Pontypridd RFC for