The former Wales fly-half spoke to WalesOnline about the state of Welsh rugby and what’s next
Dan Biggar insists the Welsh Rugby Union must make radical changes if Wales are to drag themselves out of the doldrums.
The men’s national side have lost 17 Test matches in a row – a tier one record – while the WRU are still searching for a long-term successor to Warren Gatland who left his post four months ago. With its four professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – struggling to compete in the latter stages of competitions, Welsh rugby finds itself at a crossroads.
Behind the scenes the WRU are working hard on a restructure of the professional game with a reduction of clubs to three or even two being seriously considered.
Biggar doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but Wales’ most capped outside-half believes now is the time to change.
“It feels like Welsh rugby is at a crossroads,” Biggar tells WalesOnline.
“Everyone has got an opinion in Wales.
“Is it four regions? Is it three? Is it two? Who goes and who stays?
“Wales have lost 17 on the spin and haven’t won a Test match since the World Cup.
“There’s not a huge amount of positivity but one thing I’d say is if you are not going to make big drastic decisions now, when will you?
“Clearly for the last 17 matches and eight campaigns things haven’t been working, have they?
“Whether it’s the coaches, players, funding or the CEO, for whatever reason things haven’t been working.
“So, it would be absolute madness for new guys to come in and say we’ll keep doing what we are doing.
“We have to change.
“The expertise of former players and pundits like myself, Jamie (Roberts), Sam (Warburton) lies in the best person to be coach of Wales, the best person to play outside-half, the tactics, substitutions and game plans etc.
“I’m not claiming to know all the answers but if you are not going to change things off the back of the last 17 games then you’d be mad to continue doing the same thing with the same level of funding and the same people etc and expect different results.”
This season the highest-placed Welsh team in the United Rugby Championship – the Scarlets – finished eighth, while the Ospreys reached the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
But Biggar believes it is paramount Welsh players can get more exposure to playing in big knockout games at club level and winning in much the same way he experienced in his early years playing in a star-studded Ospreys side.
“If you look at the profile of the squads now it’s very much a young team with not much experience,” said Biggar.
“Boys need to get used to playing in big matches before they go into Test matches.
“It’s impossible to compare playing for the Ospreys against Connacht, no disrespect to any of those teams, to playing a Test match.
“Even teams like Munster and Leinster who aren’t fully loaded during international periods then all of a sudden you are expected to go up against South Africa or New Zealand and expect to compete.
“They need to get used to playing in bigger matches against better opposition more often.
“It’s really easy to forget that we went through some really difficult times as well.
“Everyone thinks we were just perfect back in the day but we were far from it.
“We went through some tough times and some tough losing streaks but what we did have is enough players who had been there and done it in big matches to pull ourselves out of it.
“It’s a really tough position for those boys to be in but I’ve got no doubt there’s tons of talent in that squad.
“What they need to be exposed to more is playing against better teams and bigger matches more often.”
In his work as a pundit Biggar will undoubtedly get asked his thoughts on who the next head coach of Wales should be.
Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy has been heavily linked to the role and is a man Biggar knows well from his time at the Ospreys.
“Steve is a brilliant coach, there’s no doubt about that,” Biggar tells WalesOnline.
“I thought from the Lions tour in 2021 he was excellent, clear and concise but it’s very very different being a head coach to being a very good defence or attack coach.
“In terms of quality they have to have some experience of being a head coach.
“I really don’t know who is out there, who wants it and who they can afford.
“One thing I will say is I’m glad it’s not being rushed.
“The next three or four decisions, whether it is the regions, the head coach, the coaching staff or the funding, I think those are the decisions that have to be right.
“Sometimes before we’ve made habits of rushing into decisions and maybe not getting it right.
“I’m really pleased we’ve got someone like Dave Reddin coming in who has outwardly said he can be a little bit emotionally unattached which I think is what is needed in Welsh rugby.
“You’ve asked me a direct question so I’ll give you a direct answer.
“I think Steve would do a brilliant job.
“I know that he’s a brilliant defence coach and I know that he’s loved up in Scotland and on the Lions tour in 2021 but like I said being a head coach is very different to being a very good defence coach.”
Wales face Japan in the first Test next Saturday and are in desperate need of a victory.
Outside-half has been a problem position since Biggar retired and the 34-year-old has backed both Sam Costelow and Dan Edwards to stamp their authority on the number 10 shirt this summer.
“When I was a youngster I came into a very different team to what Sam and Dan are coming into at the minute,” he said.
“I came into a team which had just come off the back of a Grand Slam in 2008.
“We had loads of world class and experienced players in the squad.
“So, it is very different from when I came into the squad to these current players where they are on a tough losing run and lost a lot of experience after the World Cup and the Six Nations after it.
“Nine and 10 is a horrible position when your team aren’t winning matches.
“I think those two have got tons of talent.
“I think they probably need to show, more so than their rugby playing ability, is that character, temperament and personality in the jersey to bond the team and get the team going.
“Whoever starts I want them to almost make it look as if it is their team.
“I think we get caught up a little bit in Wales with wanting to be brilliant all the time, especially in that number 10 position.
“If those two boys walk off the pitch and they’ve delivered a six and a half and seven out of 10 they are going to give Wales a better chance than if they’re eight out of 10 for 10 minutes and then three out of 10 for the next 20 minutes.
“Ultimately, it’s just so important to get a result on this tour.
“Clearly it is going to be incredibly difficult because it is going to be ridiculously hot.
“I don’t really care how Wales get the job done over the next few weeks but what’s most important for the country, team, players and coaches and everyone is that they do get the job done.”
Despite having recently retired from the game Biggar and his family will remain in France for at least the next couple of years.
Biggar will continue his work as a pundit, while he has also set up a rugby academy for kids called Dan Biggar’s Rugby Stars in partnership with Yellow Days.
“I’ve got tons of things going on,” he said.
“There’s my media work, some bits and pieces I’m doing with different companies, some leadership executive coaching bits which I love.
“We are launching a Dan Biggar’s Rugby Stars which is effectively a school camp and programme which we are going to run through the summer holidays and half terms etc.
“Basically if a child is aged 5-13 (boys and girls) anyone is welcome.
“It’s about having fun and trying to get people enthusiastic about the game in Wales because we’ve probably missed out on a generation.
“We are starting off with three or four this summer and I’m going to get myself back for a couple of them as well.
“From my junior rugby days at Gorsenion RFU to playing for Wales and the Lions, rugby has given me enjoyment, and taught me life lessons and values that I want to now pass on to the next generation.”
“Rugby Stars is about showing children how rugby can help you learn new skills, develop confidence and have fun along the way.”
The first venues will be in Cardiff and Wrexham.
“We are excited to be launching Rugby Stars in Wales with Dan Biggar,” said Yellow Days founder Emanuele Palladino.
“Our mission is to make it easy for parents to book fun activities for their children, and in Dan Biggar we have a role model who represents our values and will help deliver an exceptional experience for future generations of players.”
You can find more information at www.yellowdays.com/danbiggar and via email at hello@yellowdays.com.
