Sir Bradley Wiggins is a household name in the UK.
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“Wiggo” as he is more affectionately known is the most successful British road cyclist of all time.
Actually the son of the late Australian cyclist Gary Wiggins, though they endured a difficult relationship, Wiggins is one of the “mother” country’s favoured sons winning Olympic and world titles both on the track and road and notably the 2012 Tour de France.
Yes, he indeed won the biggest cycling race in the world in 2012.
Yet famously, also in 2012, when he was given a life membership to the Wigan Warriors rugby league club he famously described that as the highlight of his year.
He even got a tattoo on his arm to honour it.
It’s fair to say “Wiggo” is a Wigan Warrior through and through and is a high-profile example of the type of fanatical fans the world’s most powerful and popular rugby league club commands.
Outside of the signing legions of locals who will make the trip from Wigan and Hull for the history-making Super League clash at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium on February 10, the UK league clubs will bring with them some high-profile supporters to our shores.
Earlier this week, Wigan rugby director and former English rugby great Kris Radlinski said he had received a text from Wiggins hoping to clear his diary and join the Warriors on their Australian excursion.
During the week, Wiggins tweeted the news of the Wollongong fixture, responding “Can’t wait for this”.
Wigan also counts Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff and world-renowned golfer Lee Westwood among their ardent fans.
Boasting large social media following each of these such celebrity fans will take Wollongong and New South Wales to a whole new audience on their hopeful visit to our shores.
