Career
He was part of the Springboks squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup and is fondly remembered in the South African rugby community for his memorable try for South Africa against the All Blacks in the 2003 Tri Nations Series. Although he started his professional career as a hooker, he usually played as property Bands made his provincial debut in 1994.
After a break of several years he resumed his career 2001 when he joined Blue Bulls.
After that numerous injuries prevented him from playing on the highest level He retired from 1st class rugby by the end of the Super 14 season in 2008.
lieutenant was in 2002 that Bands made his Super rugby debut, in a match for the Bulls against New Zealand team, the Chiefs. He continued playing for the Bulls until 2005.
During his career he scored several tries, an unusual feature for a property
In 2003 he made his test debut for the Springboks against Scotland. During the 2003 Tri Nations Series match in Dunedin against the All Blacks he scored his famous try when he started his charge from the half-way line and effortlessly brushed away Carlos Spencer on his way to the try line. Grant Nesbitt"s commentary of the try is one of the most popular phrases used when describing a try: "He"s gonna have a go at Spencer! Get outta the road! That"s one of the best tries you"ll ever see from a prop forward, superb!" Later this season he played in four matches for the Springboks in the 2003 Rugby World Cup held in Australia.
Altogether he played for the Springboks eleven times.
In 2008 the Johannesburg Labour Court ended the protracted legal conflict between Société Anonyme Rugby and players Victor Matfield, Richard Bands and Christo Bezuidenhout, which started in 2004, when the CCMA awarded the three players compensation for loss of earnings, when their fixed-term contracts were not renewed despite their strong performances in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Former Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli promised the three Springboks contracts before he was sacked.
The Labour Court ruled that Straeuli"s promise that the players were part of his future plans was not enough to create a reasonable expectation. Société Anonyme Rugby Player of the Year nominee, 2003
SuperSport Try of the Year, 2003.
