Dan Biggar has disclosed details of his on-field altercation with Owen Farrell following the England captain’s dismissal at Twickenham during the summer warm-ups.
Against Wales, Farrell became the first English player to see a yellow card upgraded to a red card through the newly introduced ‘Bunker’ review system. This ruling was the result of a high tackle on Taine Basham.
The aftermath of the clash led to a spat between the two fly-halves.
“I’ve got no issue with Owen – we’ve been team-mates with the Lions – but he made it personal by coming at me in the second half at Twickenham,” wrote Biggar in his column for the Mail Online.
“‘Stop complaining,’ was what Farrell said in my direction, just after he’d hit Taine Basham high. I thought it was a clear red card and was just airing my view.”
“I told Farrell that people are allowed to have a go at him. He’s not above everyone else. Owen is such a competitive guy, just like I am, and it was a heat-of-the-moment incident.
“I was very surprised Farrell and Freddie Steward weren’t sent off immediately. Both were given yellow cards, but Owen’s was upgraded to a red by the new television bunker system.
“That will mean he’s likely to get a ban, one which could rule him out of the start of England’s World Cup campaign. As much as we went head-to-head at Twickenham, the World Cup will be all the poorer if Owen is forced to be on the sidelines. It will be a big blow to England.”
Owen Farrell red card:
Five most hated rugby players, named and ranked:
We have curated a compilation of individuals who, through their actions on and off the field, have acquired a regrettable reputation within the game. Their notoriety extends beyond specific fan bases or clubs; it encompasses the entire rugby community.
#5. Dan Biggar (Wales)
Amusingly, Biggar epitomizes the kind of player who manages to invoke strong dislike until he becomes a part of your own team.
Over the course of his career, this fly-half has exhibited a growing penchant for passionately berating referees.
This behavior has reached such heights that Glove39, a renowned online personality and unwavering fan of Scotland, cleverly crafted a video titled ‘birdman.’
In this video, Glove39 humorously mimicked Biggar’s habitual arm-raising expression of frustration directed at officials.