Dan Biggar to switch to Northampton Saints ahead of 2018/19 season

Wales international Dan Biggar has signed a new contract with Aviva Premiership club Northampton Saints starting next season.

The 27-year-old made his professional rugby debut with Ospreys in 2007 and has amassed over 2,000 points for the Welsh regional side since then after making more than 200 appearances.

His switch to Franklin's Garden will take place when his dual contract with Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union will expire at the end of the ongoing season. A joint statement released by the WRU and Ospreys revealed that the fly-half declined the revised deal offered to him for extending his stay.

"I am hugely privileged to sign for a club with the history and tradition of Saints," said Biggar, who will join his Wales team-mate George North at Northampton.

"It is extremely exciting to start a new chapter of my career with a club that shares my ambition to win trophies, which is where this club belongs.

"I have to say a massive thank you to the coaches and board for the confidence put in me, and I look forward to working as hard as I ever have in my career to return the faith.

"This is an opportunity for me and my family to experience rugby in a different environment, and playing in a town and surrounding area which has a massive passion for rugby was a huge attraction."

Biggar also thanked the opportunity given by WRU and Ospreys and is eyeing to finish on a high in the ongoing Pro 14 season.

"I would like to thank everyone at the Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union who has supported and helped me throughout my career, and an extra special thank you to the fans who have helped and supported me through highs and lows.

"To play for my home club was a dream come true, let alone to play as many times as I have done.

"I hope my passion for the shirt and people of this region has shone through in my performances, and I would love to leave on a high note with some silverware. I also remain fully committed to Wales and achieving the best I can every time I pull on the red shirt."

Northampton Saints rugby director Jim Malinder is delighted with the signing of Biggar.

"We are delighted to have secured the signature of such a highly-rated player.

"Dan has shown his excellence year in, year out, for both the Ospreys and Wales, and he performed really well for the Lions this summer.

"The fact that he has put pen to paper a year in advance shows that Dan has plenty of belief in where we are going as a club and our ambitions for the future, and we are looking forward to welcoming him here next summer."

Biggar, who was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad in the recently concluded New Zealand tour has played 56 Tests for Wales, scoring 295 points in it.

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