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Rugby News

Wigglesworth ready to repay Tigers faith

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Richard Wigglesworth says the end of ban is a "weight off his shoulders" as he prepares to take on his former club, Sale Sharks, at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday evening.

Speaking after the squad's final session in the build-up to the Gallagher Premiership game, the 37-year-old cut a figure more like that of a 20-year-old approaching their senior debut.

"It has been frustrating, of course it has ... I want to play rugby and haven't been able to do that," said Wigglesworth.

"Then, take it account I got a chance to play at the beginning of the season and started to settle in on the pitch before having to stop and watch on from the stands on match-day.

"I made the mistake, the punishment came and I accepted it ... then the frustration came as points were allocated for games off because of the pandemic, but the ban continued on longer than the weeks determined originally."

"The fans have been great since I arrived ... hopefully I can give back to them for their support since joining the club with effort on the pitch now"

Richard Wigglesworth

However, while frustrated, the Tigers scrum-half also accepts the suspension was his own doing and understands the "unique" circumstances of the current campaign competition-wide. 

"The circumstances are unique, with games being called off and Europe being suspended, and that's not necessarily any different for every player, without games taking place and I am sure for fans in lockdown as well," admitted the former England No 9.

"It’s a weight off my shoulders that now I can focus solely on playing my part in this squad and help out on the pitch with what we are building at Tigers."

While unable to play at the weekend, Wigglesworth has continued to train and taken on extra responsibility as a mentor to the next generation of scrum-halves making their way in the game.

"The silver-lining has been the opportunity to spend more time with the young scrum-halves at the club than I might have had if I had been playing," he said.

"There is some exciting youngsters in this group, especially at scrum-half, and whatever experience I can pass on to help them, it benefits the club moving forward.

"I have been so impressed with their attitude and skill, it will be a quality battle between them for a long time for the No 9 shirt in Leicester."

The off-season recruit also thanked the club for their efforts in allowing him the chance to return to action in the showdown with the Sharks and believes he can now repay their faith, as well as that of the supporters at home, with his on-field effort.

"I'm really grateful to the club for the work put in to get it sorted and allow me the chance to get back on the pitch," added Wigglesworth. 

"The fans have been great since I arrived, it's just a pity I have only been able to interact with them on social media and not yet share a game with them at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

"I even managed to wrangle a win in the Topps Try-umph of the month award with their votes, so hopefully I can give back to them for their support since joining the club with effort on the pitch now."

With the focus for the Premiership's most-experienced player now back on playing, he is admittedly happy to stop playing the guessing game and kick off with a game against his former side under lights.

"Sale is a club I know well and so it's a nice way to come back, against a former club of mine against a quality line-up like the Sharks," Wigglesworth said.

"We have a few lads away with England and Shalva in camp with Georgia, but the squad depth here in Leicester this season is strong and it's an exciting matchday squad to put out with a good balance across the line-up.

"To be honest, I'm just glad I can talk about playing rugby again, not guessing when it might be that I can have the chance to run out in the Leicester Tigers kit with this awesome group of players." 

Wigglesworth will start at scrum-half this evening. See the Team HERE.