'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.
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 (Vice Captain) (@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.”
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.
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
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’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.
35 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
35 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
35 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.
35 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. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. 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.
35 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.
35 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.
2 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.
35 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.
18 Go to comments