Richard Parks

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.

2016 marked the production and release of a documentary series and a standalone documentary with Parks, both produced by One Tribe TV. A 3-part BBC One Wales and BBC Two series, "Extreme Wales with Richard Parks", was released in September. "Richard Parks on Everest", a 60-minute documentary for BBC One Wales following his progress earlier in the year on Project Everest Cynllun, was broadcast in October.

In December 2012, he attempted to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole from Hercules Inlet on the Antarctic coast. During his trek he received an extra food resupply, and in January he had to abandon the attempt as he could not reach the South Pole in time for the last plane back to South America. He subsequently returned to Antarctica at the end of 2013, and on 4 January 2014 he completed an unsupported and unassisted journey to the South Pole, covering 1,150 km (715 miles) in 29 days, 19 hours and 24 minutes, the fastest solo for a Briton.

In 2014, Richard's first network television series was broadcast on Channel 5. Filmed by Zig Zag Productions, it follows a year of preparation and the subsequent completion of endurance races, as well as his solo, unsupported ski to the South Pole.

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 the climbing of the 7 summits.

Parks' 737 Challenge was filmed for a BBC Cymru Wales documentary; "Richard Parks - Conquering the World" and was transmitted in 3 parts from Tuesday 26 July 2011. It has since been distributed across the globe. Filmed by Sports Media Services, the documentary shows the emotional and inspirational journey which saw Richard Parks conquer 7 Summits, 3 Poles in 7 Months. A version has subsequently been released on iTunes.

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.

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.

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.

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 sufficient game time, Parks returned to Wales for the 2007–08 season with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Parks was subsequently signed by Pontypridd RFC for the following season, and in 2001 Parks represented the Welsh Sevens in the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Argentina.

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.

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.

Richard David Parks (born 14 August 1977 in Pontypridd, Wales) is a former Wales international rugby union player turned extreme endurance athlete and television presenter.

Richard 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.