‘Clearly a top-class player’: What Gopperth will bring to Welford Road next season
BORTHWICK PRAISES VETERAN’S POSITIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND ‘IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE’
LEICESTER Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick has explained his decision to sign Jimmy Gopperth.
The veteran Kiwi has amassed more than 1,200 points in seven seasons as a Wasps player, taking him to fourth in the all-time Premiership point scorers list, having also enjoyed a prolific spell at Newcastle Falcons earlier in his career.
Gopperth was confirmed to be leaving the Black and Golds in early February but his well-rumoured switch to Tigers was not officially confirmed until last week.
“He is clearly a top-class player,” said Borthwick. “He has been for a number of years. He has positional flexibility. I met with him, I was really impressed by his manner and his in-depth knowledge of the game. He clearly loves the game, and I am sure he is going to add enormously here.”
Since 2017, Gopperth has juggled his professional rugby playing duties with a head coach role at Warwickshire rugby club, Nuneaton Old Edwardians.
Under his guidance, and the support of fellow Wasps players Ashley Johnson, Craig Hampson and most recently, James Gaskell, the Old Eds have progressed on and off the pitch and were crowned Midlands 2 West South champions to move into level six next term.
Many Wasps fans hoped Gopperth would remain with the club beyond his playing days and join the coaching team, and speculation of his move to Mattioli Woods Welford Road was linked to a possible player/coach role, similar to that which fellow experienced campaigner Richard Wigglesworth enjoys at Tigers.
Borthwick was asked whether that was the case, to which he replied: “He’s signed as a player here.”
Gopperth is just 20 days younger than scrum-half Wigglesworth, whose new deal was announced last week, and both will be 39 by the time they team up together for the 2022/23 season.
Also among the contract extensions was the Premiership’s all-time top try scorer Chris Ashton, who turned 35 in March, as Tigers’ talented young squad will be underpinned by some vastly experienced operators next term.
Former England captain Borthwick, who retired from playing aged 34 in 2014, explained why he thought more senior players are seemingly playing later into their thirties in recent years.
“Training methodology has improved,” he said. “I see that generally. The strength and conditioning and medical side of things are improving every year.
“That gives the potential for players to maintain higher standards for longer. Then ultimately it comes down to the drive of the player.
“If they don’t have that drive, then they won’t be able to.
“But there is definitely the potential to continue to perform at a high level.
“I’d rather not put limits on it. If these guys have the desire to play, the desire to train hard and then play well, from my point of view, why put a limit on things?”