Sexton message meant a lot, says Biggar
DAN Biggar has told how Johnny Sexton sent him a text message that revealed much about the Irishman’s character on the day of the Lions squad announcement.
Sexton could have been forgiven for feeling bereft, having missed out on a place in Warren Gatland’s squad for the tour to South Africa.
But the World Rugby player of the year for 2018 still made the effort to get in touch with Biggar, a Lions team-mate from the trip to New Zealand four years ago.
In an interview with Mailonline, Biggar recalled how he had learned from the Irishman on that trip to New Zealand.
“Last time, I picked up so much from Johnny Sexton,” he said.
“Johnny sent me a really nice message on the day of the squad announcement after he missed out, which says a lot about his character. He said: ‘Congratulations, all the best and target a Test spot’.
“That meant a lot.”
Biggar also spoke of the tightness of the bonds in the midweek side in New Zealand in 2017, telling how they enjoyed the tour, with one night seeing a memorable game of creditcard roulette.
“We had the Test team and the midweek team, but there were no egos in the group,” he said. “I was part of the midweek team and we had some great times together.
“It didn’t take long for the story to come up about George Kruis losing a £1,500 game of credit-card roulette on a weeknight in Wellington!
“That group of us watched the Test matches from the stands, which wasn’t the easiest, so I suppose that’s all part of the memory that drives me.”
He added: “In 2017, I was thinking about booking a flight home when I heard James Haskell had been given a late call-up, but I absolutely loved spending time with him.
“I spent as much time with the English lads as anyone.”
Biggar will fight it out with Owen Farrell and Finn Russell for the Lions No. 10 spot.