{{Infobox rugby union player
| name = Richard Kahui
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|06|06}}
| birth_place = {{flagicon|NZL}} Tokoroa, New Zealand
| height = 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
| weight = 96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
| position = Centre, Wing
| current_club = (retired)
| provincial_team = Waikato, Manawatu
| super_rugby_team = Chiefs, Western Force
| national_team = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] (All Blacks)
| national_years = 2008–2012
| national_caps = 17
| national_points = 50 (10 tries)
| clubs =
| club_years = 2004–2013 (Waikato)
| club_caps = 53
| club_points = 105 (21 tries)
| club_years2 = 2006–2013 (Chiefs)
| club_caps2 = 74
| club_points2 = 95 (19 tries)
| club_years3 = 2013–2019 (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
| club_caps3 = 59
| club_points3 = 115 (23 tries)
| club_years4 = 2019–2022 (Western Force)
| club_caps4 = 33
| club_points4 = 55 (11 tries)
| club_years5 = 2023 (Manawatu)
| club_caps5 = 8
| club_points5 = 0
| honours = [[Rugby World Cup]] 2011 Winner
[[Super Rugby]] 2012 Winner
| update = October 2023
}}
Early life and career
Born on 6 June 1985 in [[Tokoroa]], New Zealand, Kahui attended [[Te Awamutu College]]. He began his provincial rugby career with [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]] in the [[National Provincial Championship]] (then the [[ITM Cup]]) in 2004, quickly establishing himself as a talent.Super Rugby career
Kahui made his [[Super Rugby]] debut for the [[Chiefs (rugby union)|Chiefs]] in 2006. He became a key player for the franchise, renowned for his strong running, defensive capabilities, and ability to break the line. He played for the Chiefs until 2013, making 74 appearances and scoring 19 tries. His tenure with the Chiefs culminated in their historic [[2012 Super Rugby season|2012 Super Rugby title]] win, a significant achievement for the team.International career
Kahui's impressive performances at provincial and Super Rugby levels earned him a call-up to the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]]. He made his test debut on 8 November 2008 against [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] at [[Murrayfield Stadium]]. He was a vital member of the All Blacks squad that triumphed at the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]], featuring in several matches and scoring a memorable try against [[France national rugby union team|France]] in the pool stage. Despite a career often hampered by injuries, particularly to his shoulder, Kahui earned 17 caps for New Zealand, scoring 10 tries (50 points). His final test appearance was in 2012.Post-All Blacks career
After leaving the Chiefs in 2013, Kahui moved to Japan to play for [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] in the [[Top League (Japan)|Top League]]. He spent six successful seasons with the club before moving to Australia to join the [[Western Force]] in [[Super Rugby AU]] and later [[Super Rugby Pacific]]. He continued to play at a high level, bringing experience and leadership to the Force. In 2023, he briefly returned to New Zealand to play for [[Manawatu Turbos]] in the [[National Provincial Championship]] before officially retiring from professional rugby at the end of the season.Playing style
Kahui was renowned for his robust and direct playing style. As a centre, he possessed an excellent blend of power, pace, and handling skills. His strong defensive reads and tackles were a hallmark of his game, making him a valuable asset in midfield. He was also an intelligent attacker, capable of setting up tries as well as scoring them.Honours
- [[Rugby World Cup]]: 2011 (with New Zealand)
- [[Super Rugby]]: 2012 (with Chiefs)