Former Wales and Lions fly-half Biggar to retire from rugby

Former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old will bring the curtain down on his illustrious 18-year career as a professional upon the expiry of his contract with French club Toulon.

Biggar won three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2019, and played at three Rugby World Cups with Wales.

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Looking back on his 18-year career, Biggar told Sky Sports News: "I always wanted to do it on my own terms; I always wanted to go out when I was relatively fit and healthy and it just feels the right time. Someone said to me 'when you'll know, you'll know' and I'm kind of at the stage when it's time to move on to something a bit different and also give my family their time back.

"I've given everything to this game and I'm so, so privileged to have played it for so long and achieved so much."

Selected for the British and Irish Lions tours of New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, he started all three Tests against the Springboks.

He said: "I was lucky enough to go in 2017 which was a real Lions experience, whereas the 2021 tour was more of a play-in for the Lions, if that makes sense. The pride of wearing that shirt was special but it felt really strange with no crowds, no restaurants, no bars and no supporters around in the city.

"The concept just shouldn't work where you get four nations coming together after playing against each other for four years, but it just does work."

Who would Biggar make skipper for Lions?

"It's probably between Caelan Doris and Maro Itoje at the minute," he said. "I think Doris given how much familiarity there is in terms of the Irish coaching. There will probably be a lot of Irish players on board so I think someone like him, who's been around, knowing the system, the players, the management, the staff will be a big plus, so he's going to pip Itoje.

"I think Jack Willis is going to be out there because he plays for Toulouse, playing his club rugby out in France, and he's someone who doesn't quite get the recognition. If he has a strong end to the season with Toulouse then he could be on the plane."

Biggar, who made his international debut as a 19-year-old in 2009, retired from Test rugby as the fourth-highest capped Wales player following their run to the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals.

Biggar's breakthrough came in 2007 at Ospreys, where he made 221 appearances, scored a record 2203 points, and won two league titles and the Anglo-Welsh Cup across 11 seasons.

He spent four years at Northampton Saints from 2018 before joining Top 14 side Toulon, who he helped win the European Challenge Cup in 2023.

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