One of three Waikato members of the foundation Crusaders forward pack, Richard Kirke was also one of eight players to be added to the initial squad roster because of injury. The Hamilton Marist hooker was one of 13 drafted players who featured in the inaugural Crusade, lining up alongside his Waikato team-mates Dean Coleman and Deon Muir. Although Kirke only made three appearances for the Crusaders, his Waikato career was more extensive. He succeeded former international and current Waikato Air New Zealand Cup coach Warren Gatland as the province’s number one hooker, debuting in 1993 and going on to make 30 appearances in the red, yellow and black stripes, before he was in turn overtaken by Fijian international rake, Greg Smith. Kirke later played for the Bedford club and then London Irish during an extended playing stint in the United Kingdom before finishing up in 2003.