Dan Biggar is doing everything he can to ensure his knee is in the best shape possible when Gallagher Premiership rugby is able to make a return.
The 30-year-old fly-half went down with what initially looked like a serious knee injury during Saints’ home clash against Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens in February.
But after fears were allayed soon after the match, Biggar was able to make a rapid return to action, starting for Wales against England at Twickenham the following weekend.
Since then, no rugby has been possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe, and Biggar admits that some time off rugby and training at home, with everyone at Saints currently in self-isolation, has been a good remedy.
“I have been doing plenty of rehab, keeping on top of that,” said the 83-time Wales international. “I’m doing more bike work than running because I’m trying to ease my knee back and stay off it, before getting back into the Club and some sort of structured training.
“The first couple of days post-injury it didn’t feel great. It felt very sore and I thought ‘there’s no way I’m going to be fit in a few weeks’ time, let alone next week’.
“I’m trying to give my knee the best chance to strengthen it so when we get back into training, whenever that is, I will be in the best shape possible.”
Dan Biggar
“I do tend to be a decent healer so any sort of bumps or niggles I’ve been quite lucky to turn things around quite quickly.
“I apply myself, whether that’s icing it or rehabbing or rest or whatever needs to be done, and I was relieved it wasn’t anything more serious.”
When it comes to kicking, Biggar has been the iceman once again in this year’s Premiership, and currently boasts a success rate of 92% from the tee – third in the overall standings just behind Exeter Chiefs duo Gareth Steenson and Joe Simmonds.
But while he has not been able to practise as much as much as he would like in recent weeks, Biggar is confident that forcing himself to stick to down-time will pay off further down the line.
He added: “I haven’t been able to do much kicking since I’ve been off, so that’s frustrating because it’s one of the things I’m quite happy with and I like to keep on top of when there’s no games.
“You just feel like you keep ticking over in a rhythm, but I haven’t been able to kick for a few weeks.
“I am lucky because we’ve got some fields out the back of the house, so I can hit a few balls, but I haven’t really done much of that, just a few to keep ticking over.
“I’m trying to give my knee the best chance to strengthen it so when we get back into training, whenever that is, my knee will be in the best shape possible to really focus on getting back to full fitness, full kicking and trying to finish the season off.”
