"I've struggled" - Dan Biggar responds to retirement reports in France

Recent speculations from France hinted at a potential player swap between Toulon and Montpellier involving Paolo Garbisi, seen as a replacement for the sidelined Welsh fly-half.

Amidst concerns raised by the French press about Biggar considering retirement due to the injury, WalesOnline reached out to the player's agent earlier this week for clarification. The agent set the record straight, dispelling any notions of impending retirement.

Tim Lopez told Wales Online: "There's no substance to the speculation whatsoever.... Dan's focussed on ending the season on a high with Toulon and is excited about continuing his journey with the club until at least the end of his contract next summer."

Providing an exclusive update on his fitness, Biggar appeared as a guest on talkSPORT last Sunday, expressing, "I'm feeling much better now. I'm back fit and I've got no issues now.

"But I've struggled over the last couple of months with a back issue since the World Cup, so hopefully, I'm on the mend and I'll be back in the mix and looking forward to the end of the season really."

The setback occurred for Biggar during a conversion attempt against Perpignan shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup, where he pulled up, clutching his back

Owens said: Some people will be surprised at this one to start off. His misfortune was perhaps to be leading England during a difficult time, but he always gave everything for the cause, encouraging others to follow suit, and he was a nice guy off the pitch."

Owens said: "He was not only a great rugby player but also a great leader and a great man. Whenever I came across him on the field, he impressed me."

Owens said: "He’s right up on any list of rugby’s greatest players.

"Maybe he will be at the top for many people.

"New Zealand won something like nine out of every 10 games in which he led them, but the mark of Richie McCaw was how he conducted himself when the All Blacks lost."

Owens said: "I’m classing this as a joint-ticket as whenever I seemed to ref Ireland in their day O’Driscoll was captain and O’Connell was vice-skipper.

"O’Driscoll actually used to tell me if there were issues with the forwards then I should chat to O’Connell.

I found them excellent to deal with."

Owens said: "My choice as the best skipper I encountered may raise a few eyebrows, but what a captain Dusautoir was. He unfailingly put his body on the line throughout his career — recall the 38 tackles he made when France knocked the All Blacks out of the 2007 World Cup — led by example and understood the game very well."

The brains behind the Six Nations masterplans, these head coaches have all won 'Rugby's Greatest Championship', since the modernised competition began back in 2000. Throughout the history of the competition, there have been only five head coaches to win the competition on more than one occasion.

However, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is looking to become the sixth, as he orchestrates the men from the Emerald Isle into defending their Six Nations Grand Slam. In total, the Six Nations has been won by 13 different head coaches, and we challenge you to name them all in the next six minutes!

Your time starts... now! Good luck!