"Early exit" - Wales legend Dan Biggar fires back at Toulon president after wild statement
Rugby NewsThursday, 11 April 2024 at 14:50
Toulon's playmaker, Dan Biggar, firmly asserts that he sees his future firmly rooted in Toulon despite hints from club president Bernard Lemaitre suggesting otherwise.
Although the 34-year-old still has a year remaining on his contract, a persistent back problem since November has taken its toll on both his performance and playing time.
In a recent interview, Lemaitre floated the idea of potentially cutting ties with Biggar before his contract term concludes.
He said: “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’s. It’s difficult for a champion of this size. He still wants to play, to complete his contract. We will see in the coming months.
Biggar has since responded, saying: “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] called me to see how I was doing. But I’m fine! There is no problem.
“Here, everything is different 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.”
A fans poll has ranked rugby’s five biggest d***heads
We all love to hate. For every force of good there is in rugby union, there is an equal force of bad to provide balance. A yin to their yang. For every hero, a villain.
As much fun as it is to see the sport's most treasured icons succeed, audiences can sometimes take equal pleasure in seeing a star plummet from the heavens and fall to the depths below.
We've ran a poll to discover who, whether it be for their antics on or off the pitch, have developed an unenviable reputation in the game.
Find out the top five below.
#5. Dan Biggar (Wales)
Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career. It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.
Dan Biggar facts:
- Biggar has twice been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions (2017 & 2021)
- On 7 December 2015, Biggar won the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year Award
- Biggar came through the Ospreys development pathway, having attended Gowerton Comprehensive School in Swansea
- The fly-half has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call “The Biggarena” after Los Del Rio’s 1995 hit, Macarena
#4. Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
A flanker that plays on the edge and never fails to get under the skin of opposition fans. His late hit on Stuart Hogg and foul-mouthed war of words with the Kyle Sinckler during the 2019 Six Nations did him no favours. The sort of player you love to have, but also love to hate.
Peter O'Mahony facts:
- During his career, O'Mahony has captained Presentation Brothers College, Ireland U18, Ireland U20, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions
- O'Mahony was born in Cork, where he attended Presentation Brothers College
- The flanker captained Ireland at under-18 and under-20 levels
#3. Mike Brown (England)
In his own words, the fullback is a 'marmite player' with fans either loving or hating him. A skinhead who enjoys confrontation is not the traditional mould for an England No15.
Mike Brown facts:
- He has won three Six Nations Championship titles with England and two English Premiership titles with Harlequins
- Having mainly played football and little rugby, he initially wanted to play fly-half
- Brown was an integral part of the England team that won the RBS Six Nations Championship in 2016 and played every match in the 3–0 whitewash of Australia
- Brown married long term partner, fashion designer Eliza Scarlett Woodcock, the daughter of former England international footballer Tony Woodcock, in summer 2016
- He was selected by the general public for the 2014 RBS Six Nations player of the championship award
#2. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Eben Etzebeth of South Africa during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.
Eben Etzebeth facts:
- Etzebeth may be 6ft 8in and more than 19st (2.03m/123kg) now but he did not dominate rugby in his early school days, leaving his growing until later in his teens
- In 2016, aged 24, Etzebeth became the youngest player to play 50 Tests for the Springboks in the game against Australia at Brisbane
- The lock was voted South African Young Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013, and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2013 when the award was won by New Zealand’s Kieran Read.
- Etzebeth’s biceps have a circumference of 19 inches… 48.26cm.
- In 2017, Etzebeth became the 59th player to captain the Springboks in a Test match when he led the side in the match against France at Ellis Park
#1. Owen Farrell (England)
Could it be anybody else? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him. The England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.
Owen Farrell (c) 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
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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