Latest news with #Wigglesworth
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
A mole, a Lion and a confession - Premiership Rugby talking points
Loose lips sink an ugly debrief following their 13-try demolition by Gloucester, Exeter will be hunting a mole."We heard a rumour that someone in the Exeter camp called us soft, so we had to make a point," Ludlow told TNT Sports in the wake of a 79-17 thrashing at Kingsholm."Every time we got in a huddle it gave that little bit of fuel."Ludlow's team-mate Christian Wade went on to suggest one of Exeter's Welsh players was the source of the misguided assessment and Gloucester's motivation, narrowing the possible candidates down to a is plenty of blame to share around 'will dwell' on record defeat Exeter weren't just outsmarted by Gloucester's tiki-taka offloading game - something that will happen to better teams than them on a sunny day and the hosts' artificial pitch - they were also ground to dust up Clement was driven over after six minutes. Replacement hooker Jack Singleton scored a 27-minute short-range hat-trick. The red-zone ruthlessness that defined the Chiefs in their domestic and European double five years ago was turned against them as their flimsy defence recorded only 66% tackle success, the joint-lowest of any team this Tony Rowe, who has seen the member-owned club rise from the English second tier to the top of the club game, went into the away dressing room to outline just how far off those heights the current team has fallen."Tony is entirely entitled to come in there and fire into everybody," Exeter head coach Rob Hunter said."He puts a lot of time and effort into the club, and his expectations and everyone else's expectations should be way, way higher than that." Wigglesworth on reconnaissance With the British and Irish Lions squad to be announced on 8 May, this was the final round of Premiership games for contenders to press their Alex Mitchell and Gloucester's Tomos Williams, both leading scrum-half candidates, burnished their chances with excellent showings in most intriguing, though, was Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth's presence at Sale's win over Ford will hope his former Leicester and England team-mate was in his seat sliced through Saracens' defence twice in the opening 90 seconds to set up Rekeiti Ma'asi-White's opening Finn Russell, Sam Prendergast, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in the mix, the 32-year-old would have to weave through similarly heavy traffic to make his first Lions tour, but he has a big advocate in Sale coach Alex Sanderson."People have put other fly-halves ahead of him because of their attacking, game-breaking prowess," said Sanderson."But I think he showed tonight that he's got that in his game as well - what can't he do?"Are there three better fly-halves in Britain and Ireland than George? I don't think so."On secondment from England duty, Wigglesworth might well have dropped Steve Borthwick a line on front-row Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, a combination that might well be available for the summer tour of Argentina, dominated to the extent they even claimed a scrum against the head. Youngsters seize their chance A Bath with this much depth and fizz is probably technically a year-old Ciaran Donoghue, who steered Bath to their Premiership Rugby Cup triumph, made his league debut against went scored a scintillating try inside two minutes, carving the Falcons open like a Christmas turkey. It was part of a performance that featured 13 beaten defenders (a record for a single match this season), 190 metres made, a 100% success rate off the tee and the player of the match Russell on the bench and Gloucester's Santi Carreras and Racing's Henry Arundell en route in the summer, Donoghue, who also plays full-back, is another entry on a fearsome roster for the leaders' 2025-26 youngster to step in and step up was Leicester's Emeka 23-year-old back row, who signed a contract extension in March, was a destructive cameo on both sides of the ball in the Tigers' win over 31 minutes on the pitch, Ilione made 34 metres - more than any other Tigers forward - and six Ilione on bulking up and medical degree on Tigers' Rugby ShowA former England under-20s captain, Ilione still has another year until he completes the medical degree he is juggling alongside may see plenty more of the doctor in the future. Officials explain errors and earn respect "It's my fault, I made a mistake, I apologise."If you make a mistake, own Sale, chasing a bonus-point score against Saracens, had a try wrongly chalked off by referee Christophe Ridley, he admitted to captains Dan du Preez and Maro Itoje he thought he'd seen a knock-on when there hadn't a similar vein, Anthony Woodthorpe, realising only after allowing Handre Pollard to convert that a try by Leicester wing Adam Radwan shouldn't stand, wiped seven points off the Welford Road are inevitable. Managing them with honesty and clarity isn't though. Ridley and Woodthorpe did their bit for official-audience relations. Clark shines light on second-row skills In November 2014, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr's one-handed touchdown catch in an NFL game against Dallas Cowboys propelled him to superstardom and spawned a slew of endorsement deals., externalArthur Clark's agent is probably not quite so busy this the Gloucester lock's superb restart take,, external all arched back, strained sinew and single-paw dexterity, early against Exeter bore more than a bit of a resemblance.
NZ Herald
21-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Kohukohu determined to restore historic hall despite council setback
'It is part of the history of the town, brings a sense of pride and provides a place for connection within the town.' Category 2 buildings are classed as heritage-type buildings of historical or cultural significance and value. Wigglesworth said while there were other public buildings like the church and marae, the hall was a neutral space for everyone. 'That is one of the reasons people are proud of it and wish to preserve it … We have also had an upturn in usage, there is a need for it.' Council head of infrastructure Tanya Proctor said it had applied for more funding for renovation works than was granted. The total funds available – including funding budgeted by the council – were not enough to proceed with the work, she said. 'At the time the project cost $1.67 million and we applied for a grant of $676,175.' The hall needed to be re-piled, the kitchen and bathroom replaced, and fire compliance needed to be brought up to code. The structural integrity of the main hall trusses needed improving, the lean-to roof needed refixing, the interior and exterior walls required recladding, and the cord in the double-hung windows were to be replaced. Proctor said upgrading the kitchen and bathroom facilities would protect and conserve the structure for the future. 'The building is of historic value to the community and this project will allow for the restoration and protection for a site of significance to our history.' Proctor said the community would have improved public access when the hall was restored. She believed people would be able to learn and experience more of the hall's history. 'A historic building in good condition will bring enthusiasts to Kohukohu. Proctor said buildings such as the Old Bank Managers House and library, and Clendon House in Rāwene would complement a visit to Kohukohu. Basic maintenance for the hall would continue and urgent repairs would be addressed. 'It is considered a priority for preservation as a heritage building and a significant community asset,' Proctor said. 'The intention is to preserve the hall in line with the Community Development Plan developed with the Kohukohu community.' If the council could not secure the funding needed for renovations, it would seek community feedback on an alternative option, she said.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
How Richard Wigglesworth earned surprise British and Irish Lions coaching call
Long and distinguished his playing career may have been, Richard Wigglesworth freely admits that he never expected the British and Irish Lions call to come during his 20 years at the elite level. Unable to fully break up the Ben Youngs and Danny Care English scrum-half duopoly, and with competition rich at the position in the other constituent unions, Wigglesworth was never quite perfectly poised to pounce for a place on the five tours encompassed within his career despite his 33 international caps and tally of seven Premiership titles. So it was with immense pride that the 41-year-old answered the summons from Andy Farrell last week asking him to join his former Saracens and England coach on the trip to Australia. Back on dad duties after weeks away from home working during the Six Nations, Wigglesworth was larking about in his back garden with his five-year-old daughter when the phone rang – and having successfully fended off her attention for long enough to take the call, there was no hesitation in accepting Farrell's offer. 'Different tours happen when you're playing well but I never expected a call,' Wigglesworth reflected of his Lions hopes as a player. 'As with every player, that's the dream. It never materialised but it's like that for most players. That's why this is the pinnacle and the elite of the elite. 'I bit [Farrell's] hand off before he needed to do any convincing. I love a challenge and they don't get any better than this one. I can't wait to get stuck in.' It is little more than two years since Wigglesworth finally called time on his illustrious club career, a move into a full-time coaching role at Leicester Tigers necessitated by Steve Borthwick 's appointment as England head coach in December of 2022. After an impressive interim stint at Welford Road, Wigglesworth followed his boss into the national team to oversee the attack, before earning a promotion to be Borthwick's first lieutenant ahead of the autumn. After a mixed start to the Six Nations, few would have expected Wigglesworth's name to feature on the list of assistants confirmed on Wednesday, but England's strong finish and 10-try thrashing of Wales could hardly have presented a more compelling case for their attacking schemer's inclusion. There are parallels between his rise and that of his boss – Borthwick went on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand at a similar stage in his coaching career, with the pair each taking on roles while still playing, with Japan and Canada respectively. While there are a few lingering loose ends to tie up from the recently finished campaign, there is no suggestion that Wigglesworth will have to review England games while away with the Lions as Borthwick was forced to by Eddie Jones eight years ago. 'He's well placed to make sure that I am in the best spot going forward,' Wigglesworth explained. 'Steve was awesome. He knew before me but was obviously waiting for me to get the call and offer from Andy. 'He was delighted for me. He's been a big part of my coaching journey so I thanked him for that. I'll be picking his brains on what the Lions looks like. He did say that one of his rugby highlights was coaching the Lions as an assistant, so I'm looking forward to catching up with him about that.' One of the shrewdest half-back tacticians as a player, Wigglesworth has shown an adaptability even in a relatively short coaching career so far. After installing a limited but successful kick-pressure gameplan to take England to the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the 41-year-old has since been tasked with expanding the side's attacking game. There have been ups and downs in the year or so since but the Wales thrashing showed the sort of side Borthwick and Wigglesworth are hoping to build. 'It was one of those games where we got every bounce of the ball. We've had times in the last 12 months where you are cursing that bounce. But they were off and we were on, and getting the odd bounce along the way, that's what it looks like. But in terms of how we want to play the game, that would be the blueprint. 'We were poor against Scotland with the ball. As with all these things, you adapt and you use it, or you let it weigh you down. Credit to Steve and the players, we adapted and put our best stuff out in the last couple of weeks, which is great.' Wigglesworth is excited to work with Ireland counterpart Andrew Goodman and Farrell himself to forge an attacking strategy for the tour. 'Nothing's set in stone yet but Andy wants us across all areas together: the opposite of what working in silos looks like. He wants us as cohesive as possible. My responsibility is to every player from the British Isles and Ireland, to work as hard as I can to get up to speed with their strengths and what they could bring.' There is a sense of a journey coming full circle as Wigglesworth unites with Farrell, a key figure and factor in bringing the scrum-half to Saracens a decade and a half ago. 'He was part of the coaching staff that signed me in 2010. I'd come down from Sale and didn't expect to sign, but him along with the others were really persuasive. 'He'd shown me round where I might live. I remember getting out the car and the last thing he said was, 'Wiggy, have you got the balls to do it?' I was like, 'yeah, I have'. That was my first memory of big Faz.'
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Richard Wigglesworth: ‘I'll be honest and think of nothing but the Lions'
Richard Wigglesworth was in the garden with his five-year-old daughter, two days after England's thumping win over Wales, when the phone rang. It was Andy Farrell and as much as Margot was not happy that her father was on the phone, it was a call he had to take. England's storming finish to the Six Nations may not be the only reason Wigglesworth has been seconded to the British & Irish Lions but it can only have helped and so the 41-year-old completes Farrell's lineup, the first England coach to do so since Steve Borthwick in 2017. It is easy to forget that more than two years ago, Wigglesworth was still playing for Leicester Tigers. He was a player-coach when Borthwick got the call from England in December 2022 and as a result, Wigglesworth immediately hung up his boots and took interim charge at Welford Road. By the end of the season, after losing a Premiership semi-final to Sale, he had joined up with Borthwick at England, first as attack coach before graduating to senior coach in October last year. When explaining why he selected Wigglesworth, Farrell spoke effusively of how the former scrum-half had thrown himself into coaching, off the deep end, and theirs is a relationship that goes back a while. 'I love his story, I know him, I know what makes him tick,' said Farrell. 'I love the determination, the courage, the ambition that he had from being a player-coach, to having the balls to take on a head coach job when he had no clue what that entailed.' Farrell was just cutting his coaching teeth with Saracens when Wigglesworth was persuaded to join the north London club as a player and the pair were reunited when the former was appointed as Stuart Lancaster's defence coach with England. Indeed, Farrell was a significant influence in convincing Wigglesworth to join Saracens. 'He was part of the coaching staff that signed me in 2010,' recalls Wigglesworth. 'I'd come down from Sale and didn't expect to sign, but he along with the others were really persuasive. He'd shown me round where you might live. I remember getting out of the car and the last thing he said was, 'Wiggy, have you got the balls to do it?' I was like, 'Yeah, I have!' That was my first memory of Big Faz.' When the call came last Monday, there was not nearly as much persuading to do. 'It was last Monday and I was back on duty after the Six Nations and Margot was wanting to play outside, so I was picking up the ball around with her and saw Faz's name pop up and thought, 'let's answer this'. He eventually got to it and … yeah. An incredible moment.' Wigglesworth did not tour with the Lions as a player – of Farrell's five-strong coaching staff only Simon Easterby did – but in Borthwick he has the perfect sounding board. The England head coach was part of Warren Gatland's staff for the series draw with New Zealand in 2017 and Wigglesworth will go to Australia with his blessing. 'It was brilliant for me and accelerated my coaching, so I'd love as many other people from the England group to be in there as possible, and I'll be fully supportive of them all,' said Borthwick. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Wigglesworth added: 'Steve was awesome. He knew before me but was obviously waiting for me to get the call and offer from Andy. He was delighted for me. He's been a big part of my coaching journey so I thanked him for that. I'll be picking his brains on what it looks like, but he did say that one of his rugby highlights was coaching the Lions as an assistant, so I'm looking forward to catching up with him about that.' Now that Farrell has named his assistants he can look forward to his squad announcement on 8 May with his coaches recuperating after the Six Nations before casting an eye over domestic matches in the coming weeks. Wigglesworth is adamant he does not see it as his job to bang the drum for England players' selection but certainly Farrell will be aware of what his new assistant was able to achieve, rounding off the recent campaign with a 10-try win in Cardiff. 'I'm a Lions coach, my responsibility is to every player from the British Isles and Ireland, to work as hard as I can to get up to speed with their strengths and what they could bring,' says Wigglesworth. 'It'll be the same for any player. I will be as honest as I can because it is going to require us all to put everything aside and think of nothing but the Lions to have a chance of success.'
The Guardian
26-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Wigglesworth and Easterby named as assistant Lions coaches
Andy Farrell has revealed that an initial squad of 75 players has been drawn up by the British & Irish Lions for their summer tour of Australia and has confirmed Richard Wigglesworth and Simon Easterby as assistant coaches. The England No 2 Richard and Ireland's recent interim coach are among the five names announced on Wednesday. Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel has also been recruited, with Ireland's John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman completing the management team. One of the initial jobs undertaken by Farrell and his assistants when they gathered together in London for the first time on Tuesday was to begin pencilling in the names of players who were in contention for the tour following the Six Nations. 'We came up with about 75 men or something like that. Every single one of them deserves to be on that list,' Farrell said. 'There's going to be a hell of a lot of good players who don't make the plane and that's exactly where we want to be. We want to be as competitive as we possibly can. Obviously, we're going to be watching other games that are coming up.' At this stage no set roles have been assigned to the five assistants, none of whom have previous Lions coaching experience. 'Putting together a Lions coaching team is an honour and a privilege – and the five phone calls made to this group of coaches reminds you just how special and unique it is,' Farrell said. 'This coaching group has versatility and are interchangeable in their skill set, which is a vital asset to have on a Lions tour. I think we have a fantastic mix and every one of these guys will bring their own character and personality to the team.' Wigglesworth has overseen England's attack since 2023 and has benefited from their strong end to the Six Nations, which saw Italy and Wales routed as part of a runners-up finish. The former Red Rose scrum-half first came across Farrell during their time together at Saracens in 2010-12. 'I'm absolutely delighted to be part of the Lions. Proud is probably an understatement for how I am feeling right now,' Wigglesworth said. 'I never got to play with Andy but he was my coach at Saracens and England so I know his calibre and I'm thoroughly looking forward to working with him. When I got the call I was in the back garden with my five-year-old daughter on dad duties and I had to quieten her down while I took it.' Easterby took charge of Ireland for the Six Nations in the absence of Farrell, who had begun his Lions sabbatical. 'I was lucky enough to tour with the Lions 20 years ago. It's been a long time between gigs, but it's an exciting time and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in,' former Ireland flanker Easterby said. 'To tour as a player and now as a coach, knowing the group of players that we have the potential of working with, is something that I can't wait to get stuck into.'
