Last spring, the Limerick side were left devastated after losing their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A status, a difficult campaign ending with defeat to Sligo in a relegation playoff semi-final at Rosbrien.
There was frustration, disappointment and, by Rickard's own admission, a considerable amount of hurt within the dressing room.
But rather than allowing that setback to define them, Old Crescent have responded in impressive fashion.
Four games into the new Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B South campaign, they have four victories, four bonus points and renewed belief that they can return to the level they believe they belong.
Now comes their biggest examination yet.
On Saturday, Old Crescent travel to Ard Gaoithe to face Clonmel in a meeting between the division's only two unbeaten teams.
Both sides have collected maximum points from their opening four fixtures, with Clonmel sitting top of the standings and Old Crescent immediately behind them, separated by just three points of scoring difference.
For Rickard, the 25 year old front row entrusted with captaining the club he has represented since childhood, it is exactly the kind of occasion he wants his teammates to embrace.
“I'm thrilled to be on four wins out of four to kick off the new league campaign” Rickard told IrishRugby.ie.
“There were a few times in the opening games where we had to dig deep in games and work really hard against some well-coached and quality sides, but delighted to have come out on top.”
The results have provided the perfect beginning to a season in which Old Crescent are determined to make amends for the disappointments of the previous campaign.
But Rickard knows Saturday will demand another step forward.
Clonmel have been equally impressive, recording four bonus point victories of their own and demonstrating the attacking quality that has carried them to the summit.
With both sides protecting unbeaten records, something must give.
“It's a massive game for us this weekend in Clonmel” Rickard said.
“We know the excitement that Clonmel will bring so it's essential that we bring the same energy on Saturday. We've been building nicely since Monday, so come Saturday, we hope to be in a really good place.”
The significance of the fixture extends beyond the immediate battle for league points.
Victory would move Old Crescent ahead of their Munster rivals and into first place, providing further evidence of the transformation that has taken place since relegation.
For a group that managed only five league victories throughout the whole of last season, the opportunity to equal that tally after just five matches is a striking measure of their improvement.
Rickard believes reaching the summit would be a fitting reward for the work undertaken since the summer.
“It would be a massive statement for the club to remain unbeaten and to go top of 2B South” he said.
“I think for the playing squad as well as the wider group involved, it's nothing less than we deserve after a lot of hard work put down in the last number of months.”
The challenge awaiting Old Crescent however, is considerable.
Clonmel have established themselves as formidable opponents under head coach Pat O'Connor, combining a powerful forward pack with an ability to play an expansive attacking game.
Their latest victory over Thomond maintained their perfect start and ensured they enter Saturday's encounter with confidence.
Rickard is particularly conscious of the threat posed by their forwards, an area where he will be directly involved from the opening exchanges.
“Well in fairness to Clonmel, they're a well-drilled team under Pat O'Connor” he explained.
“Heading to Ard Gaoithe on Saturday will be a huge test for us to go up against a very strong pack, with a number of good ball carriers. I suppose they play with a lot of confidence and freedom and have been able to put up big scores against the teams they've already played this season.”
For Old Crescent, the opening exchanges could prove particularly important.
Allowing Clonmel to establish momentum and impose their attacking game would make an already difficult assignment considerably tougher.
Rickard wants his teammates to match the home side's intensity immediately.
“It's crucial to get stuck in from the get-go on Saturday” he said.
“As I said, Clonmel play with a lot of freedom with a good set-piece, so we cannot allow a side like them to get a foothold in the game.”
There is also a recent reminder of Clonmel's capabilities.
Although Saturday will mark the first All-Ireland League meeting between the clubs, they faced each other in the Cyril Fitzgerald Munster Senior Plate final back in March.
On that occasion, Clonmel emerged emphatic 38-8 winners in Fethard, before going on to win the Division 2C title last season.
Old Crescent therefore know the quality of the opposition awaiting them, even if the circumstances have changed considerably.
This time, both teams arrive with perfect league records and ambitions of establishing themselves as the division's leading contenders.
Old Crescent's latest victory came against Enniscorthy, whom they kept scoreless in another encouraging performance, with Rickard amongst the try scorers that day.
Their defensive effort was particularly pleasing for Michael Harding’s charges, complementing the attacking form that has helped them secure maximum points from every outing.
But behind the impressive results lies a determination shaped by the painful experiences of last season.
Old Crescent finished ninth in Division 2A, leaving their survival dependent on the relegation playoffs, where first they hosted a semi-final against Sligo.
The defeat at Rosbrien brought an end to their time in the division and left a squad searching for answers.
“It was a tough one for everyone involved last season” Rickard admitted.
“There were definitely a number of games last season that we felt we should've won, but at the end of the day, if you don't win games, you'll end up in a relegation battle. After losing to Sligo in Rosbrien, it was a tough end to what felt like a very long season.”
The disappointment was not easily forgotten.
For players accustomed to representing a proud club with a long history in Irish rugby, losing their Division 2A status was a particularly difficult experience.
Rickard acknowledges that some performances fell well below the standards expected.
“There is still a lot of hurt within the group” he said.
“A lot of lads were embarrassed with some performances put in last season, and it has been certainly laid out from the get-go that the same won't be accepted this season.”
That sense of responsibility has become a driving force behind the early-season revival.
Rather than simply talking about improvement, Old Crescent have worked to change the habits and expectations within the squad.
The emphasis has been on accountability, commitment and creating an environment where players consistently challenge each other to improve.
“I know it sounds cliché, but we have definitely addressed the standards set out as a group, compared to last season” Rickard explained.
“There has been a huge buy-in from both players and coaches where everyone is fighting to get the best out of each other both on and off the field, which I feel we lacked last year.”
Those changes began long before the opening league fixture.
When the squad returned to pre-season training, there was a clear understanding that the previous campaign could not be repeated.
Meetings were held, lessons were discussed and objectives were established.
For Rickard, the process was about more than winning matches.
It was about restoring the pride associated with wearing the Old Crescent jersey.
“Absolutely, righting the wrongs of last season was always in the front of our minds since going back into pre-season” he said.
“As a group, we had a number of meetings since the summer to look at where we've come from, the changes we continue to make, as well as the plan for the rest of the season. To make sure we restore the pride that the club has shown over the last 80 years.”
That determination has translated into results, although Rickard is reluctant to suggest that four victories mean the problems of last season have been completely resolved.
Asked whether matching last season's entire win tally after only five fixtures would demonstrate how far the team has progressed, he offered a measured response.
“It does and it doesn't, I suppose” he said.
“The wins we've gotten already this season are a result of all the tough work put in since we went back in July.”
It is a reminder that the transformation has not happened overnight.
The early results are the reward for months of preparation, but the real challenge will be maintaining those standards throughout a demanding league campaign.
Old Crescent have made no secret of their ambition to return immediately to Division 2A.
Yet Rickard understands that promotion cannot be achieved in October, regardless of how impressive the opening results might be.
“I would have to say it is a mix of the two” he said when asked whether the priority was immediate promotion or taking each game as it comes.
“At the beginning of the season, getting back into 2A was the top objective. That being said, it is a long AIL season with lots of games and with injuries amongst other themes, we need to embrace every week as a new challenge for the group. And keep building to our goal of being back in 2A next season.”
Maintaining that perspective is particularly important when a team begins winning regularly.
Four bonus-point victories have understandably raised expectations, but Rickard knows that Old Crescent's relegation means opponents will be especially eager to test them.
The captain believes complacency would undermine everything the squad has worked to achieve.
“It's so important to keep everyone involved grounded” he explained.
“I suppose we have a target on our backs, as being the 2A club that got relegated. We need to take each week as a fresh and new challenge and to take nothing for granted because every other team in the league is looking to come after us.”
That responsibility has added another dimension to Rickard's season.
At just 25, he has taken on the captaincy of a club that has been part of his life for almost two decades.
It is a significant honour for someone whose rugby journey has been so closely connected to Old Crescent.
Rickard first joined the club at under-six level and has remained there throughout his playing career.
His development also included rugby at Crescent College Comprehensive, where he progressed from first year through the Junior Cup ranks, won a Bowen Shield in fourth year and was selected as vice-captain of the Senior Cup squad in sixth year.
He also spent a summer with the Munster Under-19s, earning the opportunity to play in all the Interprovincial fixtures at the conclusion of that programme.
His senior Old Crescent debut came in 2020, away to Dolphin at Virgin Media Park.
Since then, he has continued to develop as a front row forward and an increasingly important figure within the squad.
Now, having been entrusted with leading the team through a crucial season, he is learning to balance the demands of captaincy with his responsibilities as a player.
“It was a new and unfamiliar role for me to step into” Rickard admitted.
“I've definitely grown since taking on the role. I'm learning all the time and I found that calling on the other leaders in the group, to get their opinions on certain things and different ideas, has been really helpful for me.”
That willingness to seek advice reflects his understanding that leadership is a collective responsibility.
Although he captain's this group, Rickard knows the success of Old Crescent's campaign will depend on the contributions of the entire squad.
The experience of senior players, the commitment of younger members and the standards established by the coaching group will all be important as the season progresses.
For Rickard, however, the significance of the captaincy is also deeply personal.
Old Crescent has been woven into his family life for as long as he can remember.
His father Pat served as club president during the 2023/24 season, another milestone in the family's longstanding association with the club.
Now, Joe has the opportunity to represent that connection every weekend as captain this season.
“Having been with the club since U6s, Old Crescent is a place that has been a massive part of me growing up. With Dad being president for the 23/24 season, it was a big honour for the family and was a testament to his commitment to Old Crescent.”
For someone who has spent almost his entire rugby life at the club, the jersey carries a meaning that extends well beyond results.
It represents the people who helped him develop as a young player, the teammates who have shared the journey and the supporters who continue to stand behind the team.
“To be able to lead this group and wear the jersey every week is something I'm incredibly proud of” Rickard said.
“I know how much the club means to so many people, and I feel a real responsibility to represent it to the best of my ability, both on and off the pitch.”
That sense of belonging makes the opportunity to captain Old Crescent particularly special.
“To do that alongside a great group of teammates makes it even more special” he added.
“Hopefully we can do the club proud and give something back to the people who have supported the club.”
It is a sentiment that helps explain the determination behind Old Crescent's impressive start.
For Rickard and his teammates, the objective is not simply to collect victories or climb the league table.
It is to restore the standards and pride that they believe should define the club.
Saturday's meeting with Clonmel will provide an important indication of how far they have progressed.
Both sides have been outstanding through the opening four rounds, combining attacking ambition with the consistency required to collect maximum points.
The margins in the standings could scarcely be tighter.
Clonmel lead by just three points of scoring difference, meaning the winner will emerge with a significant early advantage in the promotion race.
For Old Crescent, victory would also carry considerable symbolic weight.
A year ago, they were struggling to find the results needed to preserve their Division 2A status.
Now, they have an opportunity to record a fifth successive league victory and move to the top of Division 2B South.
But Rickard is determined not to allow the excitement surrounding the occasion to distract from the task ahead.
Clonmel have already demonstrated their quality, and the memory of March's Munster Senior Plate final provides a reminder of the challenge awaiting the visitors.
Old Crescent will need to match the home side physically, establish themselves early and maintain the standards that have underpinned their unbeaten start.
There will be difficult moments, as there have already been during the opening rounds.
Rickard knows his teammates have shown they can respond when challenged.
The captain also knows that a single victory, however significant, will not determine the outcome of the season.
The ultimate objective remains a return to Division 2A, and that will require consistency long after Saturday's final whistle.
For now, though, there is an opportunity to make a statement.
A chance to show that the disappointment of relegation has been transformed into something positive.
And for a 25 year old captain who has spent almost 20 years wearing the Old Crescent jersey, another opportunity to lead the club he loves towards the future he believes it deserves.
The hurt of last season has not disappeared, but it has given Rickard and his teammates a powerful reason to keep improving.
Four wins have provided the perfect beginning.
A fifth, against the only other unbeaten team in the division, in a mammoth Munster derby, would be another significant step towards restoring Old Crescent's place in the Energia All-Ireland League hierarchy.
And for Rickard, there would be few greater rewards than helping return the club that shaped his rugby life to Division 2A, while giving something back to the people who have supported him every step of the way.
By Diarmuid Kearney
Old Crescent Images By Holly Hennessy Photography