1
'The days of flogging a player have gone... but we must be really adaptable to finish the Premiership'
Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has urged fellow Gallagher Premiership professionals to enthusiastically embrace the challenge of finishing the current season – even if it means playing three games a week. With the Top 14 season terminated due to the coronavirus pandemic and speculation emerging that the Guinness PRO14 might go the same way next week when officials from the five countries meet virtually to discuss the indefinite suspension, the English top-flight is shaping up to be the only elite European league to reach a conclusion on the field of play.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nine rounds of regular season matches – along with the playoffs – remain to be played in England and while Saracens are already automatically relegated to the Championship due to repeated salary cap breaches, Wigglesworth wants the club to impressively finish out the season.
“There are a lot of us in limbo at the moment and it would be nice to get things sorted,” he told RugbyPass. “Players have to recognise the extenuating circumstances and get on with playing games to make sure the clubs exist and thrive. Players have to be looked after but this situation is so much bigger than a few players being tired and picking up niggles.
“Clubs are very aware of what is happening and the days of flogging a player have gone to just get a short term result. We have to be really adaptable and if you are fit to play two or three games a week you do it. Whenever it is safe we have to get playing for the clubs and the players are helping by taking pay cuts. Now it’s about playing the games when and if we can.”
Set to turn 37 next month, Wigglesworth has played a record 286 Premiership games for Sale and his current club Saracens, winning six league titles and three Heineken Cups, but he will soon be out of contract. While an extension at Saracens would put his hopes of becoming the first player to appear in 300 Premiership games on hold, he wants to see out the current season on the pitch and then see what happens for the future.
I chat with big @bvunipola on #Thelockdown on @RugbyPass
He is staying put at @Saracens #yourman full interview ?https://t.co/yySgZOQUKi pic.twitter.com/eeKUu1y4tX— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) March 26, 2020
“We are going to have to want to make the game bigger and more exciting, not think about the negative side of things. We have a brilliant game. As it stands I’m keen to play on but we haven’t had any information about how the season looks like. There is no point me asking until the club knows what is going on and when that happens it will filter down and the players will have to get sorted. Come the end of June you can technically sign anywhere and we need to complete the Premiership.
“Everything stopped with the virus and at the moment I’m out of contract and we are all waiting for things to start again. I’m mad keen to play on and feel as good as I have done and was happy with what I was doing on the pitch before this happened. If the Sarries thing had been different it would have been me staying there. Hopefully, something can be sorted when we all get going. If not, then I will wait to see what happens with other places.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Wigglesworth, who built a gym in his home two years ago, is following a personal fitness programme set out by his club’s strength and conditioning coaches who helpfully identified hills to be climbed near player’s home. Government advice permitting, all Premiership clubs are aiming to spend June getting their squads ready for the season to restart in July with the Premiership final in August.
“I understand the different training schedules that have been done and having spoken to the lads at Sarries, they have done a great job of sourcing gym equipment and are working exceptionally hard but there is a difference between running and playing. Getting ready in a month is possible and while it won’t be the same as a normal pre-season, getting back into the rugby and contact will be looked after by the strength and conditioning experts. I don’t see it being a problem.”
With players leaving Saracens to take up contracts with rival Premiership clubs on July 1, there is the possibility of some key inside information being utilised by other teams if the 2019/20 season is restarted. “It will bring a bit of interest to things with people playing for other teams mid-season, knowing the calls and it will add something to the competition,” reckoned Wigglesworth.
“I finished my level three coaching course but what I don’t have is the certificate and the final stuff done. It has been good and I had a brilliant introduction to coaching with Harrow and the last two years with Ealing Trailfinders. I have given up a lot of my free time to do it.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chiefs boss unimpressed with one particular suggestion for rugby's return https://t.co/TEoqedBbYX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 1, 2020
“I feel ready to kick on and become a better coach but that is hopefully not for a couple of years when the playing career is over. Sarries have a brilliant culture of wanting players to do things outside the game. I want to coach and have spent the last five years working hard on that, putting pressure on the family by not having as many days off. But everyone who has left the game was big on learning and trying to improve.
“I have not asked about coaching at Sarries because I want to play on, but if you look at the coaching staff it is pretty full. The place is very close to my heart and you would never say never, but what I’m asking for at the moment is a playing role.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
20 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
8 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
72 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
20 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
8 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
20 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
20 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
20 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to comments