Richard Wigglesworth: England can win the World Cup in 2019 and I want to be there with them

Exclusive: The overlooked scrum-half tells The Independent about his ambitions for the next two years and reveals his reaction to Eddie Jones' harsh assessment of his form

Wigglesworth is a key player for European champions Saracens but has been regularly overlooked for England (Getty Images)

At 34 years of age, most rugby players could be forgiven for having one eye on the next chapter in life - but Richard Wigglesworth is a different animal.

The Saracens scrum-half wants to keep playing for as long as his body will allow and he still harbours ambitions of making the England squad for the World Cup in Japan in two years’ time.

“I’m a very proud Englishman,” he tells The Independent. “Like anyone else I’m desperate to get in that squad.”

The Lancashire-born back must surely go down as one of the unluckiest players on these shores in the past decade. The beating heart of the most successful club side in the country – having won three Premiership titles as well as back-to-back European Champions Cups since joining from Sale in 2010 – Wigglesworth has been capped just 27 times by England with Leicester’s Ben Youngs and Harlequins’ Danny Care preferred in the No 9 shirt.

A run-out from the replacements bench in May’s win over the Barbarians at Twickenham was his solitary appearance since the 2015 World Cup.

“It was an enjoyable week,” he says. “I haven’t been in that environment for a while. But it was a non-capped Barbarians game with a few guys away so I won’t get carried away.”

Wigglesworth was one of many established Aviva Premiership names to miss out on the subsequent tour to Argentina, with uncapped New Zealand-born Willi Heinz, 30, picked as the back-up scrum-half instead.

Despite criticism of his selection, head coach Eddie Jones was defiant when questioned why the likes of Wigglesworth and Saracens teammate Alex Goode were omitted.

"If those players were so desperate to get picked, they should have been playing the house down for their clubs. And they haven’t been,” Jones said at the time. “I hope they are upset, I hope I see better performances from them. And I hope they use the summer to prove me wrong.”

Despite obvious disappointment at his lack of opportunities under the Australian, Wigglesworth agrees with those harsh words and says he will strive to improve his game.

“I don’t think anyone not in the squad can grumble too much,” he adds. “Whatever you think about your own game, [Jones has] done an unbelievable job. Winning grand slams and only losing one game – those on the outside can’t really say too much.

“There’s nothing you can do but work hard for your club, work hard every day and try to improve. I think that’s the big thing. You have to become a better player than you were yesterday.”

Jones’ uncompromising approach has seen England rise to No 2 in the world rankings and the squad now boasts a strength in depth that is the envy of world rugby.

“There is a lot of talent coming through at the moment pushing the established guys and that can only benefit England long-term,” Wigglesworth says. “This England team is awesome and looks like it’s going to become a very successful team.”

Wigglesworth has made just one England appearance since Eddie Jones took charge in 2015 (Getty Images)

With the 2019 World Cup looming, Wigglesworth sees no reason that England cannot go all the way.

“The way the team is developing and the sort of rugby they’re playing, the mind-set they have got, the experience the current England team have got… you would expect them to go very well,” he says.

“It is a World Cup and anything can happen - we saw Japan beat South Africa last time [at the 2015 World Cup in England] and other shocks. It’s such a pressurised environment – but I think all the signs are positive.”

While Wigglesworth has already been busy at pre-season training, it will not be until the start of August that he welcomes back the five Saracens teammates who played such a crucial role in the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

Wigglesworth was speaking as Sarries launched their new kit this week (Getty Images for Betsafe)

Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Jamie George, George Kruis and Mako Vunipola all started in the Test series against the All Blacks and gained vital experience ahead of the World Cup.

Wigglesworth believes the Lions’ success laid a blueprint for England’s hopes of defeating the reigning world champions.

“I think New Zealand are still the best team in the world but, as the Lions showed, if you can stick in there and keep the game close then you can get results against them.”

Richard Wigglesworth was speaking at the Betsafe sponsor launch event with Saracens. For more information, visit www.Betsafe.com.