Dan Biggar has put Welsh professional sides on red alert with the news that he will leave Northampton Saints at the end of this season.
The Wales skipper has regularly spoken of his affection for the club and the surrounding area and has represented the Saints 68 times, scoring 605 points and helping them to two top four finishes in four years.
The fly-half joined the club when they were in transition and has been heralded in playing a key role in the revolution that has seen a number of young players blossom into fully fledged professionals.
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It always seemed that Biggar was more than happy in his surroundings over the River Severn but Saints boss Phil Dowson alluded to the Premiership's shrinking salary cap and reduction from two to one marquee player next season in the official announcement.
Dowson said: “When he came to Saints back in 2018, we were a Club in transition and there was a lot of expectation on him. He has been a major part of the rebuild of the team. We’re now at a point where we believe we should be competing at the business end of major competitions, with a number of leaders within the squad who were just coming through when Dan arrived.
“The likes of Lewis Ludlam, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Alex Coles and Fraser Dingwall have all captained the side in recent times and are now very important leaders for us, but they have all leaned on and learnt from Biggs – who is top class in training and generous with his time. So, when we are successful and win a major trophy, Dan’s fingerprints will be all over that.
“It has been well documented that for this season and next, the salary cap for Premiership clubs is lower than it was previously. There is also a reduction in marquee players from two to one, which presents an additional challenge in building a balanced and competitive squad. We have to start putting a longer-term plan for the team in place, so these are all factors we have considered in making this decision.
“Dan is a good man and he won’t be short of offers for next season and beyond. We wish him, and his family, the very best for whichever opportunity he chooses to pursue.”
Whilst in Northampton, Biggar also won two Six Nations titles, became a Test starter for the Lions, won his 100th cap for Wales and became captain of his country.
The Wales management also credit his time at Northampton, working under former boss Chris Boyd as be keying in developing his game in recent years.
Biggar said: “I have loved my time at Northampton Saints, a traditional rugby Club which is full of great people from top to bottom. It has been a privilege to wear the Black, Green and Gold jersey.
“I wish I could have played more for the Club – I missed a few matches over the last few years due to my international commitments, but there isn’t a better place to play rugby than Franklin’s Gardens in front of an incredible group of supporters.
“I have made new friendships that will last forever, and it has been a pleasure to watch the young crop of Academy guys mature and develop into first-team senior pros. There are too many brilliant people here to mention, but I hope we can all finish the season in spectacular fashion as we did last year, and go a couple of steps further!
“A special thank you has to go to Boydy [Chris Boyd]. I can’t thank him enough for the way that he treated me, and gave me so many opportunities to represent this Club.
“Saints will always be very special to me – and that includes the Club’s magnificent supporters, who have welcomed me in and supported me wholeheartedly through both the highs and lows. It really has been a privilege to play for your Club.
“Northampton will be the first result I look for on a Saturday afternoon moving forward! I hope that in the future I can come back, see lots of familiar faces and enjoy the Gardens as a fan as much as I did a player. Thank you for everything.”
There will now be a clamour to get Biggar back to Wales. With over 100 caps, he will remain eligible for Test selection if he does not come home but it would be viewed as a massive coup if one of the four pro teams here were able to entice him.
And it seems like a bit of an open goal for the Ospreys, where Biggar made his name, playing 221 matches over the first 10 years of his pro career. Gareth Anscombe currently has ownership over the No.10 jersey in Swansea but only signed a one-year contract extension this year, meaning he will become a free agent after the Rugby World Cup.
That would point towards him looking to explore some options after the global gathering, leaving a void to be filled. A Biggar homecoming would be a huge hit with fans of the region.
However, in a recent interview with WalesOnline, Biggar hinted at his desire to experience new cultures and cities, which would put a move to France or even Japan in the frame.
He said: "I would be really keen in years to come just to experience things. I want to be able to say in 10-15 years time that I’ve lived in different parts of the world, experiencing different cities and different cultures.”
On the prospect of Japan, he added: “I will say the World Cup was brilliant in Japan, I really enjoyed it when we were out there. That was a really cool place, so that could be something that would perhaps be an option in years to come, if anybody wanted me over there. It’s a brilliant place."
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