Hurry up and get a Wiggle on
FORMER England star Richard Wigglesworth says he will jump at the chance to resume playing when rugby gets the green light.
The English Premiership plans to restart in July and the Saracens scrum-half insists he won’t need a second invitation.
Wigglesworth said: “I really want it to get going. I think we are reasonably relaxed about going back – we will be in good hands.”
Wigglesworth turns 37 next month and is out of contract three weeks later, so his eagerness to get back in the shop window is understandable.
“We’re not massively worried about going back, like I know some of the footballers said they are,” he added. “There’s a lot of trust with the clubs and the protocols that would be put in place.
“I honestly think I could play in two weeks. It might not be ideal, but nothing’s ideal in this.”
Wigglesworth concedes that, with rugby union facing financial hardship, there will be some “shortterm pain” and “massive workloads” put on players.
“I think we all know the clubs and the unions need money and the only way they get that is by playing games,” he said.
“Players want to be part of the solution and we will be. We’ve got to get back and get on board with entertaining and playing as much as possible.
“The reality is some player-welfare probably goes out the window for a bit. But you need a sport for there to be welfare in it.
“There’s no point in us having half a game but good welfare. We want a full game, and I think the players and staff will have to bear the brunt of that. I think that’s a sacrifice players should – and will – be willing to make.
“In the meantime, the administrators must sort out the structure of the season. If we get that right then hopefully rugby won’t be consumed by the doom and gloom of the financial implications, which are going to be huge.”