Richard Coventry came into the Hurricanes as a replacement player midway through the 1996 season, making five appearances, including four starts in the row in the last four matches.

Coventry played for King Country in the 1996 NPC, before transferring to play as a lock for Waikato in 1997 when King Country lost its first division status.

He continued at Waikato in 1998 when the Mooloo Men held the Ranfurly Shield all year and made the NPC final. Coventry made three appearances as a substitute for the Chiefs in 1997 and subsequently played rugby in Japan.