WIGGLES UP FOR RECORD
Gallagher Premiership Round-up
RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH runs out for his record-breaking 266th Premiership appearance today when Saracens face Gloucester – and insists there’s still more in the tank.
The 35-year-old scrum-half started professional life with Sale in 2002 as an 11 -stone weakling, but has bulked up to keep up with the modern game and bagged five Premiership titles – four with Sarries.
Wigglesworth overtakes the mark set by his former skipper Steve Borthwick today, but has vowed to set the bar too high for a couple of his current team-mates.
He said: “If it’s yours you may as well make it tough to beat. I’ve got quite a few more in me, I think, so let’s make it a mark that if someone gets past it I’ll say, ‘fair play’.
“Jamie George and Alex Goode started early but in the next two or three years I’ll try and get some numbers on the board and give them something to chase.
“I signed out of school and lied on the form saying I was 11-and-a-half stone. I put on two stone in one summer and since then I have been pretty consistent. I’ve had to move with the game.”
Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga, who joins up with England in camp today, staked his claim for an autumn international spot with a try in the 17-15 win over Northampton.
But luckless team-mate Sam Underhill (above) went off in the second half after a stinger injury.
England prop Joe Marler saw yellow as Harlequins crashed to a third defeat on the spin, 20-13 at promoted Bristol while Nathan Hughes, sin-binned in the first minute of Wasps’ 31-13 win at Sale, made amends with a bonus-point try late on.