World rugby legends paid tribute to Dan Biggar after the Wales star officially retired this week
The great and the good of world rugby have paid tribute to Dan Biggar upon his retirement – with Shaun Edwards saying the Wales legend saved his career.
Biggar brought the curtain down on his playing days this week, posting on social media confirming “full time” had been called and his boots hung up for the last time.
The 35-year-old announced in April that this would be his final season in rugby, finishing his career with club side Toulon.
Biggar won 112 caps for Wales in a 15-year international career, becoming his country’s most-capped fly-half, while he also starred in the Lions shirt. He bagged three Six Nations titles and featured in three World Cups for this country.
Taking to Instagram, the Gorseinon product shared a photo of himself looking out over the empty field at Toulon’s Stade Mayol and wrote: “Full-time. Grateful for every moment and ready for what’s next.”
Now, some of the biggest names in the game have come together to offer up their own video tributes to the former Osprey.
“The bigger the moment, the better he played,” Edwards began in a tribute video.
“The bigger the game, the better he played.”
Arguably the world’s best player Antoine Dupont said: “Hello Dan. Just a few words to simply congratulate you on your career you had.
“Everything you did for Wales, the Lions and the rest of your career that we know. Congratulations on being the talented player you are with an incredible kicking game but also a very brave player.”
Fellow fly-half legend Jonny Wilkinson added: “Hey Dan, just a little message to say a massive congratulations for what is, for me, a monumental career.”
Former Wales and Lions team-mate Sam Warburton said: “Biggs! What a shift mate, two Lions tour, Test match tens, centurion for Wales. Legend mate.”
Fellow Ospreys hero Justin Tipuric added: “I just want to say massive congratulations on an unbelievable career.”
Leigh Halfpenny, who played alongside Biggar during the halcyon days for Wales, harked back to their time at Gorseinon RFC together. He said: “I remember the impact you had when you first joined us at Gorseinon, I could see you were going to be a special player from a young age.”
Neil Jenkins, who Biggar developed a close working relationship with during their Wales days, added: “Just want to congratulate you on a fantastic career mate and you wish you all the best in your retirement and I’m sure I’ll catch up with you soon.”
The most poignant message was left to Edwards to deliver, with the former Wales defence coach going as far as to say Biggar saved his career at Twickenham in 2015, when Wales knocked England out of their own World Cup, thanks to some clutch kicking from the fly-half.
Edwards: “He is the person that you would want to kick the goal to save your career, as he did with my career in 2015, England vs Wales, World Cup match.
“Johnny Sexton of Ireland. Owen Farrell of England. Dan Biggar of Wales.”
