Barnes disbelief over Dan switch
STUART Barnes believes money is the primary reason Wales outside-half Dan Biggar is moving from the Ospreys to struggling Northampton Saints next summer.
Lions No.10 Biggar was a guest of Sky Sports at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday as his current employers thumped his future bosses 43-32 in the European Champions Cup.
It led to former England and Lions outside-half Barnes to question why Biggar would want to join a club that’s in ‘terminal decline’ if it’s not for the cash. However, Barnes says Biggar, like anyone else, is quite entitled to view a whopping salary increase as a major incentive.
Writing in the Times, respected pundit Barnes said: “What must Dan Biggar have been thinking on Saturday night? A guest of Sky Sports, he watched his club, the Ospreys, destroy his future employers Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.
“Forget the late flurry of points. As insignificant as the snow that fell near Bath later that evening. Slush by the time I popped out to get the Sunday papers. An ugly imitation of the real thing.
“That is how Northampton play. A side in terminal decline, a team without answers to the same issues that have dogged them for years.
“In the battle of the big underachievers Biggar’s new club were badly beaten by a side who are bottom of conference A in the Guinness Pro14.
“All the clichés about new challenges and trophy-seeking were exposed as the 21st-century ‘truths’ that they are.
“The Wales fly-half has moved for the money. Good luck to him. Why not?
“Rugby is his career not a passionate weekend hobby. ‘Loyalty’ is an easy concept for my generation to bandy about, to put into print.
“We didn’t have the option of the life-changing deal. So let us not be sanctimonious. But let’s at least be honest.
“I don’t know what the amiable Osprey was asked by my Sky colleagues after Ospreys’ rare win. In a brutal world there was only one question. Why the hell are you joining Northampton?
“The management who decided to sign the No.10 are one of the enduring problems that have dragged Northampton down. If they stay, what changes? If they depart, Biggar has signed away his rugby soul for an unknown management and uncertain future.”