REPORT: Dan Biggar's his next club after leaving Northampton Saints with immediate effect
Rugby NewsThursday, 27 October 2022 at 13:32
Rugbyrama are reporting the Dan Biggar has signed for Toulon until the end of the season.
Biggar made the switch to Saints from the Ospreys ahead of the 2018/19 campaign and has made a big impact at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens – guiding the Club to two top-four finishes in the Gallagher Premiership in four seasons, and using over a decade’s worth of international experience to help develop Northampton’s young squad.
“Dan’s quality as a player is obvious; he’s a British & Irish Lion, a 100-cap Wales international, a leader who cares about the team,” said Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson. “He loves pressure, and he loves to compete.
“His attitude is also exemplary. We could see that from when he first arrived and won the Blakiston Challenge – an event he easily could have skipped or coasted as a senior player – but he pushed himself as hard as he could which speaks volumes about his character.
“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.”
It has been widely reported that his replacement will be England U20 superstar Fin Smith, who is without a club after departing Worcester this week.
The 20 highest-paid Gallagher Premiership players in 2022/2023
#20. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks) - £400,000 per season
#19. Vincent Koch (Wasps) - £400,000
#18. Joe Launchbury (Wasps) - £420,000
#17. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) - £430,000
#16. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) - £450,000
#15. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) - £450,000
#14. Marcus Smith (Harlequins) - £460,000
Try Celebrations for Marcus Smith of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#13. Mako Vunipola (Saracens) - £500,000
#12. Paddy Jackson (London Irish) - £500,000
#11. Billy Vunipola (Saracens) - £520,000
#10. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) £520,000
#9. George Ford (Sale Sharks) - £550,000
#8. Semi Radradra (Bristol Bears) - £570,000
Bristol Bears player Semi Radradra during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears at Welford Road on June 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#7. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) - £580,000
#6. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) - £600,000
Dan Biggar of Northampton Saints kicks the penalty to take the lead during the European Champions Cup, Quarter-final match between Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints at Sandy Park on 20 Sept 2020. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK.
#5. Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) - £610,000
#4. Steve Luatua (Bristol Bears) - £620,000
#3. Maro Itoje (Saracens) - £800,000
Maro Itoje of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK
#2. Owen Farrell (Saracens) - £820,000
#1. Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears) - £1m
Charles Piutau of Bristol Bears on the break during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Bristol Bears at Kingsholm Stadium on December 3 2021 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
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