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Richard Wigglesworth (rugby union)

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Richard Wigglesworth
Birth nameRichard Eric Wigglesworth
Date of birth (1983-06-09) 9 June 1983 (age 41)
Place of birthBlackpool, Lancashire, England
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight84 kg (13 st 3 lb; 185 lb) [1]
SchoolKirkham Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002–2010 Sale Sharks 156 (106)
2010–2020 Saracens 250 (155)
2020–2022 Leicester Tigers 43 (20)
2002–2022 Total 449 (281)
Correct as of 17 December 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2018 England 33 (5)
Correct as of 16 October 2019
Coaching career
Years Team
2019 Canada (Assistant)
2021–2022 Leicester Tigers (Assistant)
2022–2023 Leicester Tigers (Interim Head Coach)
2023– England (Assistant)

Richard Eric Peter Wigglesworth (born 9 June 1983) is an English rugby union coach and former professional player. He is the record appearance maker for Premiership Rugby, he played for Sale Sharks, Saracens and Leicester Tigers. He has won Seven Premiership titles, one with Sale, five with Saracens, and one with Leicester as well as three European Rugby Champions Cups with Saracens. Between 2008 and 2018 he won 33 caps for England. In his career he has played over 400 club games.

Born in Blackpool, England, he attended Kirkham Grammar School. Wigglesworth's primary position was scrum-half, and he also operated as a fly-half or as a wing in his early career.

Club career

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Wigglesworth started his professional career with Sale Sharks coming through the youth ranks, and starting the 2005–06 Premiership final.[2] In June 2010, Wigglesworth moved to Saracens.[3] During his time at Saracens he won five further Premiership titles in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, with Wigglesworth featuring in all five finals.[4][5][6][7][8] He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019.[9][10][11] He left Saracens at the conclusion of the 2019–20 season.[12]

On 6 November 2020 Wigglesworth joined Leicester Tigers for the 2020-21 Premiership Rugby season.[13] Wigglesworth was the first player to appear in 300 Premiership matches on 5 June 2021 when he came on as a replacement in the second half of the match against Bristol.[14] He started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat his former club Saracens 15-12, with Wigglesworth winning his seventh title.[15]

Coaching career

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In the early 2000s, while being a professional player, Wigglesworth was part of the coaching team at amateur club Ormskirk RUFC, sharing his tactical knowledge and his experiences with the youth teams.

Wigglesworth served as the defence and kicking coach of Canada at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[16] Wigglesworth joined the coaching team at Ealing Trailfinders in 2019 as Attack Coach, combining this part time role with his playing commitments at Saracens. Following his move to Leicester Tigers in November 2020 he joined the coaching team ahead of the 2021–22 season, taking up the Attack Coach role in addition to remaining as an active and key player in the Premiership winning squad.[17]

With the release of both Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield from Leicester he was promoted to Interim Head Coach and immediately retired as a player.[18] Wigglesworth lead Leicester in 16 games. On 7 February 2023 England confirmed that Wigglesworth would join the national side as attack coach at the end of the season.[19]

International career

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Wigglesworth was called up to the England squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship.[20][21] He was selected for the England Saxons and the training squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.[22]

Wigglesworth was named in the starting line-up for England in the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship match against France in Paris.[23] Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre said he is confident that England newcomer Wigglesworth has the mentality required for international rugby.[24] On 23 February 2008, he scored a 79th minute try to help England to a 24–13 win in Paris.[25]

Honours

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Sale Sharks

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Saracens

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Leicester Tigers

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England

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Personal life

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Wigglesworth married Lindsay Jane Fitzgerald in July 2009 and they now have two daughters, Matilda and Margot and a son, Freddie. Lindsay is a qualified dentist and graduated from Liverpool University's BDS course in 2007.

International tries

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As of 7 July 2019 [26]
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  France Paris, France Stade de France 2008 Six Nations 23 February 2008 Win 24 – 13

References

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  1. ^ "RFU Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England". web page. RFU. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Sale 45-20 Leicester". BBC. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Sale's Wigglesworth joins Sarries". BBC News. 26 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Leicester 18-22 Saracens". BBC. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  10. ^ "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Wigglesworth commits short-term future to Saracens but accepts new club on horizon". Rugby Pass. 25 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Richard Wigglesworth: Leicester sign former Saracens and England scrum-half". BBC Sport. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  14. ^ "report: Tigers push Bristol close as crowds return". Leicester Tigers. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  16. ^ Cleary, Mick (27 August 2019). "Exclusive Richard Wigglesworth interview: How 36 year-old could yet be a player and coach at Rugby World Cup... But for two different teams". The Telegraph.
  17. ^ "Richard Wigglesworth (Attack Coach)". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Wigglesworth appointed Interim Head Coach". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  19. ^ Bech, Duncan (7 February 2023). "Richard Wigglesworth to join England coaching team after Richard Cockerill steps down". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Vainikolo named in England squad". BBC. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  21. ^ "Vainikolo – named in England squad". Sportinglife. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  22. ^ "England add Wigglesworth to squad". BBC. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  23. ^ "Wigglesworth handed England call". BBC. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
  24. ^ "Wigglesworth 'right for England'". BBC. 20 February 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  25. ^ "France 13-24 England". BBC. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Richard Wigglesworth". 7 July 2019.
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