England-bound Richard Wigglesworth born to be a coach, says ex-boss Mark McCall
Mark McCall has hailed the England-bound Richard Wigglesworth as a coaching natural, fully equipped for the Test arena.
Saracens head to Welford Road for Sunday's Premiership clash equal parts wary and proud of their old boy.
The 39-year-old will join Steve Borthwick's England revamp as attack coach in the summer, having filled the former England captain's boots as Leicester boss for the second half of this season.
Wigglesworth adopted a player-coach role under Borthwick as Leicester pipped Saracens to the 2022 Premiership title, with a 15-12 triumph at Twickenham in June.
The scrum-half spent 10 years at Saracens under McCall, with the club's rugby director admitting he knew straight away that Wigglesworth would cut it as a coach.
"He's one of the smartest rugby players that we've coached, he was always born to be a coach, with the knowledge he has and the drive he's got," said McCall. "It was obvious right away that he would coach, that he had so much rugby IQ that it would be a shame if that wasn't utilised at the end of his playing career.
"He did a lot of coaching while he was here, he coached Harrow School. He wasn't one of those players to finish their career and not know what they would do next. He was preparing to be a coach for quite a long time.
"The Leicester situation was perfect really and he will do very well with England. To win the Premiership playing and coaching at the same time is a hell of an achievement."
The table-toppers will hope to build their lead at the Premiership summit, having lost just once this term.
Saracens' track record of producing top coaches continues to bear fruit, with Borthwick's elevation as England boss now being added to with Wigglesworth. Ireland boss Andy Farrell came through the StoneX Stadium ranks, with Paul Gustard and current Sale boss Alex Sanderson among many others to cut their coaching teeth in north London.
McCall clearly takes a vested interest and pride in developing coaches as much as he does players.
Adam Powell is the latest to step through the ranks to defence coach, with McCall praising the 36-year-old former centre as a talent they always wanted to return to the club.
"The players who have real passion for coaching have done extremely well," said McCall. "Adam's a great example. He's born and bred Saracens, but in his mid-20s went to play at Newcastle.
"But even then we were saying this is somebody we want to get back. He came back and worked in the academy to begin with, and he's gone from there to transition coach and to our defence coach, and he's 36 years old.
"We knew he'd be good at it, and I'm hoping he's going to be coaching at Saracens for the next 20 years."
Mark McCall expects a focused Billy Vunipola to "lead the charge" for Saracens on Sunday, with Hugh Tizard and Jackson Wray also on hand for a side shorn of their England contingent.
