Self-isolated Saint: Dan Biggar

Dan Biggar is doing everything he can to make sure his knee is in the best shape possible should rugby return any time soon.
Saints star Dan BiggarSaints star Dan Biggar
Saints star Dan Biggar

Biggar suffered what initially looked like it might be a serious knee injury during Saints' defeat to 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 on the following weekend.

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Since then, no rugby has been possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe.

It has meant Biggar has been forced to train at home, with everyone at Saints currently in self-isolation.

And when asked about how his knee is feeling now, Biggar said: "One of the things at the moment is not having access to physio, to treatment, to the proper rehab and gym equipment.

"I have been doing plenty of rehab that the guys are sending through, keeping on top of that.

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"I've been 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 structure training."

And he added: "I've got to be honest, 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 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.

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"I apply myself, whether that's icing it or rehabbing or rest or whatever needs to be done.

"I was relieved it wasn't anything more serious.

"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.

"We are lucky because we've got some fields so I can hit a few balls but I haven't really done much of that, just a few to keep ticking over.

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"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 into full training, full kicking and trying to finish the season off."

When rugby does return, it is anticipated that it will be behind closed doors, with no fans able to attend.

So how does Biggar feel about that possibility?

"We're not used to it and to be honest, one of the big sells and reasons I came to Northampton in the first place is to have 14,000 fans packing a proper rugby ground out every Saturday afternoon," said the Wales star.

"If that's the case it will be strange but it's one of those things where teams will have to create their own atmosphere.

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"I've watched a couple of football games where they've had to play behind closed doors and it just seems really strange.

"The problem we've got at the minute is that everyone's guessing, whether it's going to be behind closed doors or whatever the situation is.

"Nobody knows and us a players have just got to focus on keeping ourselves ticking over so when we do come back, whether that's in front of crowds or behind closed doors, we've got the best chance of performing rather than worrying about things that are out of our control."

Saints players have been getting stuck into training at home.

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But with uncertainty around when the match action might resume, they are constantly searching for motivation.

"I've been ticking over and training but this week in particular I've found that my motivation has been a little bit drained over the past couple of days," Biggar said.

"I don't know whether I'm training for coming back in a week or two or whether it's going to be written off.

"My motivation has been a bit drained because of the uncertainty and you wonder whether you're doing it for any gain.

"It's been quite hard training wise."