Richard Tardits (born July 30, 1965), is a former American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL), and a former rugby union footballer for the United States national rugby union team. He held the record for most sacks in a career at the University of Georgia,[1] until surpassed by David Pollack in 2004, and he was referred to as 'Le Sack' by fans because of his French birth.
Birth name | Richard Tardits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | July 30, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 110 kg (240 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Football career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
US college | Georgia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NFL draft | 1989 / Round: 5 / Pick: 123 (By the Phoenix Cardinals) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1989–1992 | New England Patriots | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career stats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tardits was born in Bayonne, France. He was former player on the French junior national rugby team and a participant in the Running of the Bulls at Pamplona, he was a walk-on for the Georgia Bulldogs.[2] During his NFL playing days, he sponsored a semipro football team in his French hometown of Biarritz.[3]
During his NFL career, he also helped the Mystic River Rugby Club reach the national finals. He later represented the United States in rugby.
Career Totals: 27 Games, 1 Game Start, 1 Fumble Recovery
Rugby World Cup Qualifiers
Pacific Rim Championship
Pan-American Championship
Friendlies
Other Club Affiliations: