Former Wales captain Dan Biggar has announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the current season.
The 112-times capped outside half, who twice toured with the British & Irish Lions and played in three Tests, stepped down from the international stage in 2023 at the end of the Rugby World Cup.
He has been playing at Toulon since leaving Northampton Saints in 2022 and has featured twice in their Investec Champions Cup run this season that has seen them reach the quarter finals. After annihilating Saracens 72-42 last weekend they have to travel to Toulouse in the last eight this weekend to try to stay on course for a fourth final appearance at Principality Stadium next month.
“There comes a point where you just know, not because of anything in particular, but someone once said to me ‘when you know, you’ll know’,” Biggar said as he announced his decision on social media.
“Rugby has given me everything. I threw myself into this game at 17 and it’s given me a life that I could never have imagined.
“I’ve lived out my childhood dreams for the best part of two decades and I’m so, so grateful for that.”
He passed 450 first class games for Ospreys (231), Northampton Saints (69), Toulon (38), Wales (112) and the British & Irish Lions (5) this season and has been playing at the highest level for 18 years, 15 of them on the international stage.
He is also closing in on 4,000 points, a record 2,203 of which came during an 11-year spell at the Ospreys after he graduated out of the Wales age-grade ranks. He won two Pro12 titles with his home region in 2010 and 2012 and paid tribute to one of his former Ospreys coaches in his retirement address.
“A special mention has to go to Sean Holley, who took a chance on a young, cocky 17-year-old when public opinion told him to do otherwise. Who knows if things would have turned out if you hadn’t, so thank you Sean,” he said.
His 69 appearances for Saints from 2018-22 saw him help them to lift the Premiership Rugby Cup and reach the league knock-out stages in his first season. He won the EPCR Challenge Cup with Toulon in Dublin in 2023.
“The thing I’m most proud about is being able to give my family opportunities in life, that’s what means the most to me and what I’m most proud of,” added Biggar, who won a Grand Slam with Wales in 2019 and two other Six Nations titles.
“To my amazing wife Alex and my two beautiful boys I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. You were always there to pick me up when things were low and have been by my side through everything when I’ve needed it. I’m very lucky.
“The one person who isn’t here to say thank you to is my mum, who sadly passed away four years ago. Everything I’ve done over the last 18 years is because of her.
“There’s no real perfect moment to walk away, but this does feel like the right one. I’m choosing to retire, which a lot of sportspeople don’t get to do when they’re healthy and I feel very grateful and excited about what’s coming next.
“Rugby will always be a part of me, but now it’s time to give a little bit of time back to my family in this beautiful part of the world and see what challenges come next.
“I can honestly say I gave it everything I had and now it’s time for something new.”