Llanelli Star

Dan signs contract extension with Saints

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DAN Biggar has extended his stay in the Gallagher Premiershi­p with Northampto­n.

The Wales outside-half was reportedly among a raft of English Premiershi­p players being sounded out by ambitious French outfit Beziers.

Biggar and his Northampto­n team-mate Courtney Lawes were among their early targets, with New Zealand stars Ma’a Nonu and Beauden Barrett plus Argentina ace Juan Imhoff also in their sights.

But Northampto­n announced last week that Biggar and Lawes are two of 19 players to pen extended deals at the club.

They join a clutch of players to commit their futures to Northampto­n, with others including England internatio­nals Lewis Ludlam, Piers Francis, Teimana Harrison and George Furbank, plus Scottish centre Rory Hutchinson.

“Getting so many influentia­l players bought in to what we’re trying to achieve, and committed to staying with us for an additional two or three years, is a huge coup,” said Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd.

“The connection and cooperatio­n of our players to back the club long term has been great to see.

“We firmly believe we have the players in place already at Franklin’s Gardens to compete at the very highest level of English and European rugby and to challenge for every trophy available to us.

“We have a great balance of emerging and world-class players at our disposal, with a home-grown spine to the team, so it was vital for us to keep this exciting group together and build the core of our side.

“The entire squad and staff deserve huge credit for how they have handled the situation caused by the pandemic over the last few months.

“There’s been a massive amount of effort put in behind the scenes to make sure everyone remains together, and now we’re training again you can see how hungry our players are to rip in to matches when it is safe to do so.”

Biggar moved to England in the summer of 2018 secure in the knowledge that he does not contravene Wales’s selection policy — he remained eligible for the red jersey despite playing outside Wales because he had passed the WRU’s 60-cap threshold.

Northampto­n didn’t mention the length of the contract extension, but 30-year-old Biggar will continue to remain eligible for selection by Wayne Pivac, having 83 caps to his name.

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