Dan Biggar believes Welsh rugby has a “bright future”. Speaking to rugby podcast WalesOnline, the talismanic midfielder spoke about his hope for a new generation of players.

Two weeks after retiring from international rugby following Wales’ defeat to Argentina, he admitted it took “a while” to get over the quarter-final defeat, but his enthusiasm for the future is infectious. He said: “A strong core of young players will know they have the talent to be with the best of the best. “I truly believe Welsh rugby has a bright future.”

Wales’ failure in the quarter-finals will mean disappointment in the short term, but optimism should soon prevail, he says. Biggar has retired from the international scene, while Japan-bound defenders Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe will not play in the Six Nations at the end of this season. However, solid foundations were laid, along with a sprinkling of stardust from the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow and Jack Morgan.

Listen to the latest Welsh rugby podcast with Welsh legend Dan Biggar

He told rugby podcast WalesOnline: “I really think the future is bright. We had some difficult years and a lot of pain, but I think it was very important that we had the momentum to beat England in a close game. Overall, I think the World Cup was a success, but it backfired in the end.

“I think it helped people like Sam Costelloes and Rio Dyers who will be there for the next five or six years. They will get better the more they play. I think we have the potential for there to be many advantages in the four-year cycle.

“Gates is good at peaking at the right time. There are a lot of positive things to take away from this team. “This group is going to be united and united over the next few years and it will only get better.”

When asked about his likely successor as flyhalf, Sam Costelow, he joked: “I told him he would have to put up with shit for the next 15 years. I told him he wouldn’t get any praise. , and will have to accept criticism for everything that goes wrong.”

On a more serious note, he said: “He is a brilliant boy. He works well and is eager to work. He is brave, motivated and tough and I think playing at number 10 for Wales is a key quality. He also has skill and talent.

“There will be ups and downs for him, but the more he plays in this 10, the more time he will have to represent this team. A brilliant career awaits you. He performed very well in the World Cup and has everything he needs to have a very successful career. “He has the skill and confidence to defend himself against any attack.” Biggar also praised young center Mason Grady.

Speaking about the World Cup preparation and praising Warren Gatland’s tactics, he said that “hard work and going back to basics” away to Wales had really helped the team prepare. You can read more about life at Wales’ brutal World Cup training camp in Switzerland.

“It created a really good environment for us to focus on rugby whilst we were away,” he said. “He saw some belief in us that we had the talent and the group to go forward and win the group and we believed that the more time we spent together.

“I think the goal was to have a bigger team by 2027 and we just fell short and that was Warren’s biggest strength. This was evident in the World Cup games. It’s amazing how time changes.

“It was what was needed. We’d better get out of the aquarium. “We simplified, went back to basics and got some results.”



Sam Costelow likes the twist: will he be Dan Biggar’s long-term successor?

Speaking about the pressure of playing in the number 10 shirt, he said: “I almost preferred the pressure when things weren’t going so well. It was a certain mentality of proving people wrong. You have to make sure you focus on yourself and the team and not think about the pressure that comes with that. It’s not easy, it’s a difficult position to play when things aren’t going well. The rewards are great, but you will also have to endure a lot of criticism.

“For me it was a real journey. This is one of those overrated t-shirts. I encourage people to cut Sam some slack. Let him recover.

He added that Sam will also take on the role of laundry manager. “I’ll be happy to hand over the dirty laundry, more than No. 10,” he said.

Biggar took on the role of Dwayne Peele’s laundress and took it very seriously during her time in Wales, admitting she “really really enjoyed it”.

When asked about his memorable Test rugby career, he said: “I think the general on my side is very proud that we’ve achieved this. I’m happy to finish it my way, but I’ll miss the people and the entire management. People who are not always remembered. I will miss the trips to Vale, but I would choose the 2013 Six Nations, where we beat England and it was the highlight of my career.

“The three championships we won were different, but all great. One of the best experiences I had was a summer trip to South Africa. “It was the best group I’ve ever been in and beating South Africa was a brilliant trip to South Africa and will be one of my best memories.”

He added that it was “special” for him to captain Wales, saying: “For me, having someone believe in it was a huge boost and, to be honest, I really enjoyed the media side of it.” People need to be able to speak freely. I hate seeing people give simple answers after big games. “I loved being captain and in previous years I still had something to contribute to the team.”