6 January 2023
Kirkham Grammar School Old Kirkhamian, Richard Wigglesworth, has been appointed as Leicester Tigers Interim Head Coach after the club agreed terms with Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield for an early release from their contracts.
Richard, who joined Kirkham Grammar School as a First Year pupil in 1994, went on to play for the school’s 1st XV rugby squad in 1999-2001 and was selected as vice-captain for the 2000/01 season. During his time at KGS, Richard played for Lancashire U18s, North of England U18s and England U18s, touring Australia and New Zealand with the latter.
After leaving KGS in 2001, Richard joined Sale Sharks and is the record maker for Premiership Rugby having also played for both Sale Sharks and Saracens. He has won seven Premiership titles, one with Sale, five with Saracens, and one with Leicester as well as three European Rugby Champions Cups with Saracens. Between 2008 and 2018 he won 33 caps for England and during his career has played over 400 club games.
Richard joined the coaching time at Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2021/22 season, a role he took up in addition to remaining an active player.
With the release of both Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield from Leicester, he was promoted to interim head coach and immediately retired as a player.
We wish Richard all the very best in his new role.