Richard Wigglesworth enjoyed a stellar playing career that saw him win Premiership Rugby titles with three different clubs, play for England for a decade and play more Premiership games than anyone in history.

And yet, he knows that his true calling was to be a coach.

Now, just three years on from playing his final match, he will be part of Andy Farrell’s coaching staff for The British & Irish Lions when they travel to Australia this summer – named as an assistant coach alongside Andrew Goodman, John Fogarty, John Dalziel and Simon Easterby.

It is a rapid rise, and yet not a surprise when you realise the work Wigglesworth was doing while he was still playing to hone his coaching skills.

The current England attack coach explained: “I was incredibly into my career and wanted to be as big as I could, but I think I was always meant to be a coach and found what I was meant to be doing. To be selected for this, and help this group and for me to grow again and learn from the other coaches and players, is brilliant.

“I coached for a long time while I was still playing and put a lot of time and effort into not just becoming a coach but also in becoming the best one I can be. I think I found what I was meant to do. That is being involved in the game and helping people and teams play really well and try and win.”

This appointment sees Wigglesworth reunite with Farrell, under whom he played for both Saracens and England more than a decade ago, while the two even trained alongside one another ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

And yet when it comes to Lions memories, one of Wigglesworth’s most meaningful was another rugby league convert – having joined Sale Sharks just as Jason Robinson announced himself in union on the Lions Tour of Australia 24 years ago.

Now it is Wigglesworth’s chance to get his own Lions experience, having got the call from Farrell while playing in the garden with his five-year-old daughter.

He said: “It’s incredible, I was trying to keep my five-year-old far enough away that I could hear what was going on. There was a wave of emotion that hit me. It’s been in the background for every coach, as it will be for the players. I’m absolutely delighted. It’s one of the proudest moments I’ve had.

“Andy is an elite operator, he consistently wins, it’s no surprise why. His super strength is bringing people together and getting them all pulling in the same direction. I’m excited to learn from him and pick his brain.”

Wigglesworth joins the Lions fresh from helping England to their best Six Nations finish in five years, including a record-breaking win against Wales in Cardiff.

And with England’s attack starting to click the more time they spent working under Wigglesworth, he was keen to pay tribute to the players who have helped him reach this point.

He added: “I thank the England staff and want to thank the England players with how they developed and they worked to get the end they did. If you don’t play well, I’m probably not getting the phone call and offer that I did. I’m incredibly grateful to that group.

“I got the call and started scribbling down. We’re blessed with the amount of good players we’ve got to choose from. Let’s watch and see how they play over the next few weeks.”

Following on from two decades at the highest level as a player, Wigglesworth will now have the chance to fulfil a coaching dream in Australia this summer. It is something he was born to do.