The third and final place in the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame class of 2024 has been confirmed, with Richard Wigglesworth set to be inducted into the elite group. The former scrum half joins Paul Sackey and Danny Grewcock in this year’s cohort, with his induction confirmed today by Premiership Rugby.
The former Sale Sharks, Saracens and Leicester Tigers man holds the record for the most Premiership Rugby appearances with 322 games in the English top flight. The 40-year-old is amongst the league’s most decorated talents, having won the Premiership title a total of seven times.
Wigglesworth was apart of the last Sale Sharks side to lift the silverware in 2005/06, and later enjoyed unprecedented successes with Saracens. The halfback won five Premiership titles with the North London club (2010/11, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18 and 2018/19) before adding his final winners medal with Leicester Tigers in the 2020/21 campaign.
Adding to his abundance off domestic honours, Wigglesworth also claimed three Champions Cup titles with Saracens in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2018/19. ‘Wiggy’ then retired during the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season to become Leicester Tigers head coach following Steve Borthwick’s move to the England setup.
He went on to lead the Tigers to the semi-finals last year, where they narrowly missed out to Sale Sharks. Wigglesworth earned 33 England caps over a ten-year international career, scoring a try in a famous England victory against France in Paris, in 2008.
Now England’s attack coach, Wigglesworth is a proven winner and undoubtedly one of Premiership Rugby’s most successful players, proven as a player and as a coach.
Wigglesworth, said: “To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a really special moment for me and my family.
“I’m very proud to receive this honour as I loved competing for all those years in the Premiership.
“I just absolutely loved what I did, I was very ambitious and wanted to win with my mates and help the teams that I played in. So I am also lucky to do the job that I do now and still be around rugby.
“But nothing will ever be close to putting everything in as a player every week and enjoying that process along the way.
“The first title with every club was always special. The first with Sale Sharks, a northern club that was closest to where I grew up – winning the title when I was just 21 with all of my mates.
“Then I took a big leap to move to Saracens after nine years at Sale. Sarries evolved from that South African influence to a group of young English lads who had come through the Academy together.
“And then to finish it with Leicester Tigers and beat a team that I played for, and who hadn’t lost a final in a long time, was unbelievable.
“To cap it all off, winning it again with Leicester was thanks to a remarkable turnaround under Steve Borthwick – we packed so much into such a short space of time to win the Premiership.”
Phil Winstanley, Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby, said: “Richard is one of the most decorated players in Premiership Rugby history and is now seeking the same success as a coach.
“He made a record 322 Premiership Rugby appearances and I think it will be some time before anyone comes anywhere near to this amount of games – such was the incredible longevity of his career at the very highest level.
“Having won seven Premiership titles with Sale Sharks, Saracens and Leicester Tigers is phenomenal – but to win Premiership titles fifteen years apart is a remarkable feat.
“Added to all of Richard’s ability on the field, he is also a great person off it, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame alongside Paul Sackey and Danny Grewcock this year.”