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Leicester Tigers statement: New coaching team
As flagged by RugbyPass yesterday, Richard Wigglesworth has been appointed as interim head coach of Leicester Tigers following the departure of Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield.
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Borthwick and Sinfield are taking up roles with England Rugby after the RFU effectively bought them out of their Tigers’ contracts with a massive compensation payment following over two weeks of negotiating.
Wigglesworth will retire from playing professional rugby with immediate effect, bringing the on-field career of the English game’s most decorated and accomplished player to an end.
Wigglesworth has made more than 500 senior appearances – including a record 322 Premiership games and 33 Test matches for England – during a more than 20-year professional career.
Wigglesworth commences in his new role effective immediately, supported by head of physical performance Aled Walters and assistant coaches Brett Deacon, Matt Everard, Tom Harrison and Matt Smith.
“There is so much to be excited about for what is to come for this great group of players, coaches and staff at Leicester Tigers,” said Wigglesworth. “The decision to retire from playing was not easy. I have given absolutely everything to my playing career and loved every minute of being a professional rugby player.
“My family have given everything too and I, quite literally, could not have achieved what I have without them.
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“I would not have taken on the Head Coach role of Leicester Tigers if I did not believe there was a group of players and coaches who are committed to being successful and, with those at this club, that cannot be questioned.
“I am grateful to Steve and Kev for what they have taught me, how they have challenged me and the friendship I have with both. Myself and Leicester Tigers are better for having worked with them.
“While it’s a bittersweet day, there is no time to dwell on anything. There is a job to be done, this weekend at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, against Gloucester and all of my focus is now on preparing the team for our next game.”
He made his professional debut in 2002 for Sale Sharks, who he won the first of seven Premiership titles with before moving to Saracens in 2010, where he won three Heineken Champions Cup trophies.
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Wigglesworth made 43 appearances for Leicester Tigers, scoring four tries, in two and a half seasons.
Leicester Tigers Chief Executive Officer Andrea Pinchen said: “We are so pleased to be able to announce Richard’s appointment and excited for what is ahead under his leadership.
“The magnitude of his decision to retire from playing is not lost on anybody at Leicester Tigers and Richard has the complete support of everybody at the club.
“His playing career speaks for itself; seven Premierships, multiple European titles and record appearances in the toughest league in the world.
“We have a great group of coaches, players and staff at Leicester Tigers, who we have the utmost confidence in to continue to carry the club forward and be successful, which Richard believes too and is showing by taking on this role.
“Challenges aplenty keep being thrown at us and, as we have shown with each and every single one of them, Leicester Tigers will face any adversity head on and come out the other side better for it.”
Speaking about the contribution to the club of Borthwick, Pinchen said: “The first and most important thing to say to Steve is, thank you.
“He is one of the most hard working and dedicated people I have had the pleasure of seeing up close and his commitment to helping rebuild and reshape Leicester Tigers was profound.
“I know it will be disappointing for many to have this news confirmed, however what we want to do now is celebrate what has been achieved with Steve and the achievements made with him.
“On behalf of everyone at Leicester Tigers, I wish Steve – as well as his wife and two boys – all the best in their next chapter, of which I am certain he will be successful in.”
Speaking about Sinfield, Pinchen said: “Like with Steve, we thank Kevin for all he has done during his 18 months at Leicester Tigers.”
“While only a short stay, his impact at our club will be felt for a long time; the ability Kevin has to inspire on areas like teamwork, mateship and commitment is phenomenal.
“Off the field, as much as he has on the field, Kevin has been a great source of inspiration for so many and feel proud that Leicester Tigers have been able to call him on our own.
“I wish Kevin and his family the very best for what comes next and have no doubt that he will continue to be successful in whatever he does.
“It has been a privilege to have worked with and known both Steve and Kev, from whom I have learned a lot and am grateful to for what they have given Leicester Tigers.”
Speaking about his time at Leicester Tigers, Borthwick said: “Thank you to the players and support team for the hard work and commitment and thank you to the Leicester Tigers fans for their wonderful support of the team and me.”
“I will always be a Leicester Tigers fan, always have a great connection to and love for this club after these past two years here.
“Mattioli Woods Welford Road is a special place, like no other, and I look forward to returning as a fan.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
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