Will Rigg: Exeter Chiefs centre on turning cricket dream into rugby reality
Rigg’s cricket heartache turns to Premiership passion
Characterize source, Getty PicturesWill Rigg has played seven times for Exeter since shifting to the membership in February
Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport England
“Cricket used to be always the one I was trying to pursue, but it absolutely bought to the level after I was 18 or 19, I correct wasn’t just correct ample if truth be told – it’s as straightforward as that.”
Will Rigg has had a roundabout route into Exeter’s first team spanning two sports actions, two hemispheres and high leagues.
The 24-one year-extinct centre has scored four tries in his closing three suits for the Chiefs having moved to the Premiership aspect from Championship membership Coventry in February.
Nevertheless Rigg’s wander to the Sandy Park turf used to be far from typical having had desires of being a cricketer after being enthusiastic with Warwickshire’s academy till he used to be 19.
“I did now not if truth be told have an unbiased of trying to make it as a rugby player as such, I correct bought stuck in taking half in down at uni,” says Rigg, who spent time in Australia trying to enhance his abilities as batsman sooner than returning to the UK and happening to have a examine Cardiff Metropolitan University.
“It used to be always just correct stress-free after which it correct went from there if truth be told.
“Cricket used to be always my amount one rising up but its humorous, it’s labored out the inaccurate contrivance now.”
Rigg bought onto his college team in his first one year and by the tip of his time at the membership used to be taking half in within the highly-regarded BUCS Well-organized Rugby championship.
He joined Coventry and impressed ample within the second tier for Exeter to signal him up where he trains alongside England’s Henry Slade and historical Wales centre Joe Hawkins.
“You look a amount of gamers admire myself who are coming up thru the Championship after which safe the alternatives within the Premiership,” he tells BBC Sport.
“I know after I was at Coventry we competed with some just correct teams within the Prem Cup, so from my level of peek I manufacture now not heart of attention on it’s as tall as other folks necessarily peek it to be.
“Playing with Sladey has been colossal, he is bought some colossal trip and data and he is de facto supportive of your total boys, which is which is colossal as neatly.
“It used to be rather of an discover opener after I first got here in, but from then it’s correct been extra about trying to trip each and every moment and proper strive to study from them as worthy as that you would possibly factor in.”
Characterize source, Getty Pictures
Will Rigg’s first are trying got here in opposition to Harlequins within the Premiership closing month
Rigg’s Exeter debut got here as a substitute away at Newcastle in March, alongside with his first originate coming a week later at Sale where he lined up in opposition to the likes of Manu Tuilagi, Rob du Preez and George Ford.
His first originate this season got here in opposition to Harlequins, where he also scored his first high-flight are trying, sooner than touching down Thrice in Exeter’s subsequent two Premiership Cup suits.
“I heart of attention on his ball carrying is bettering your total time and likewise that you would possibly very neatly be seeing that at this level where in those Prem Cup games he looks a extremely terrible ball service,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Sport.
“What we now have bought to rob a discover at and enact is form of form of have that confidence to safe on the ball and lift laborious and win that space and assault the distance.
“We have adapted our defensive map rather, all people has seen that, and I heart of attention on that can suit him a small bit extra and provides him a small bit extra time to evaluate what his defensive tasks are.
“Nevertheless absolutely within the final few weeks he is de facto beginning to rob off.”
So what are the ambitions for a player that has two internationals as neatly as fit-all over again Unusual Zealander Tamati Tua and a preference of other younger gamers scuffling with for two places in Exeter’s midfield?
“It is correct about grabbing alternatives,” he says.
“Strive to rob as many alternatives as I’m able to and have banging the door down in Rob’s exclaim of job and disclose ‘I need to originate as many games as that you would possibly factor in’.
“Proper strive to safe as worthy trip, are trying make as worthy of an impact on the game as that you would possibly factor in and strive to lend a hand the team as worthy I’m able to.
“When all people’s fit it could be anxious, we now have bought some colossal colossal centres at this membership, so it’s all about constructing your remember profile as worthy as that you would possibly after which expectantly when that probability comes that you would possibly even have bought to rob a discover at and rob it.”
