Dan Biggar responds to retirement claims from Toulon boss

Former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has addressed comments made by Toulon president Bernard Lemaitre that this could be his final season.

The Welshman sustained a back injury last November and struggled to get back to full fitness with another setback coming soon after.

Not done yet

This led Lemaitre to question whether Biggar, who joined the club from Northampton Saints last year, would be seeing out the remainder of his contract with Toulon.

“Since his back injury, Dan has struggled to come back. He is better, but has not returned to his best level. Not even last year. It’s difficult for a champion of this size. He still wants to play, to complete his contract [2025]. We will see in the coming months,” the president said.

The Lions tourist is contracted to the Top 14 club until the end of the 2024/25 season and has now reacted to Lemaitre’s comments.

Biggar did not take exception to the president’s comments and said that he aims to carry on playing as long as possible.

“Everything is fine,” he said in an interview with var-martin.

“Lots of people said to me, ‘Did you see what the president said about you?’ He’s in his role, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been playing at a high level for 16 years, I’m used to it. Pierre (Mignoni, head coach) called me to see how I was doing. But I’m fine!

“There is no problem. Here, everything is different (he laughs), so that speaks a lot. I will be there next year! I can’t imagine any other outcome. I want to win for this club and its supporters because I love living here, playing in Toulon and coming to the campus every day.”

He added: “Above all, I want to prove to my teammates that I work hard with every week and if we finish in the top four, I think the president will be happy. Me and my family love living here. I want to stay there as long as possible. I plan to complete my contract and do one more year if possible.”

Dan Biggar clutches injured back mid-conversion kick in concerning video

Busy 2023

2023 was a busy year for Biggar, who represented Wales at the Rugby World Cup before making a mid-season switch from Northampton Saints to Toulon.

He made the cut for Wales’ World Cup squad, and after helping Warren Gatland’s side reach the quarter-finals, Biggar took just one week off before returning to action for his club.

The veteran playmaker believes that he was not on top of his game after the World Cup and rushed his return which led to his injury.

“It wasn’t me and it was all the more frustrating as I was aware of not giving enough to Pierre (Mignoni) and the club. I was at 80% after the World Cup, it was difficult,” he added.

“There wasn’t a day I felt good after Wales were eliminated in the quarter-finals, I took a week off and started again with the RCT. However, it was a little too early. If I could have taken a few more days to breathe more, it would have been better.

“In one year, I completed the start of the season with Northampton, my transfer to Toulon and the Top 14 season, the Six Nations tournament, summer preparation then the World Cup. This is unusual for me. I paid the price.”

READ MORE: Ireland veteran to make retirement decision in the ‘next 10 days’