Richard Wigglesworth has been elevated to the position of senior assistant coach for the England rugby team, as announced by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on Monday. This appointment marks another significant change within the coaching staff under head coach Steve Borthwick, who is preparing for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, featuring matches against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Japan.
Wigglesworth, a former England scrumhalf, joined the coaching staff last year as the attack coach prior to the World Cup. In his new role, he will collaborate closely with Borthwick to enhance England’s game strategy and will assist the head coach in managing the coaching team.
Borthwick, who previously worked with Wigglesworth at Leicester Tigers, praised him for his extensive understanding of the game and his tactical acumen, noting his importance within the coaching team. He expressed confidence that Wigglesworth will significantly contribute to improving the team’s standards and shared commitment to English rugby.
Wigglesworth’s promotion follows the recent appointment of Joe El-Abd as the new defence coach, replacing Felix Jones, who has resigned after eight months in the role. Additionally, Kevin Sinfield will maintain his role as a mentor while also serving as the skills and kicking coach, albeit on a part-time basis. This coaching reshuffle also includes the decision by Premiership clubs to not allow Phil Morrow from Saracens to take over as head of strength and conditioning while continuing in his role at the London club.