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Shark basks in England debut try

27/ 2/2008

SHARKS scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth returned to Edgeley Park this week after grabbing the headlines with a try on his first start for England.

But the 24-year-old rugby player was loath to glorify his first international try, the final flourish of England’s 24-13 victory against France in the Six Nations, and admitted he was reluctant to be centre of attention.

Humble Richard said: "It was special to play around a pack that was playing that well. I’m not that interested in the limelight, I just want to get on with what I’m doing."

After a dream start for England, playing alongside his Sharks team-mate Andrew Sheridan and against French prop Lionel Faure, who also plays for Sale, you might expect Richard to have been greeted back at club training by accolades and praise.

But it was just ‘another day at the office’ as Sale players and coaches helped Richard keep his feet firmly on the ground.

He has become the prime target of banter at the Stockport-based club and the media scrum he was faced with yesterday (Tuesday) attracted even more heckles.

Richard, a product of Sharks successful Academy, said: "I always look forward to coming back [to Sharks], seeing all my mates and having a bit of a crack with the boys, even if I am getting abused!

"It’s the same old banter ‘you’ve changed’ and all that sort of stuff. I wasn’t able to train yesterday so I got a bit of stick for that, but it is all good natured."

It will be back to reality on Friday when Richard is expected to play against Worcester Warriors in front of a far smaller crowd than witnessed his 83rd minute try at Stade de France last Saturday - 70,000 less.