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Jenkins, Dafydd

Rugby News Roundup: Biggar's Kicking Technique Improved, Premiership at Crossroads, Dafydd Jenkins Injury Update

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Dan Biggar, the Welsh rugby star, has praised Toulon's kicking coach Maxime Petitjean for helping him improve his goal kicking technique. This comes after Biggar suffered a freak back injury nine months ago that made kicking for goal a difficult task. Petitjean's advice, including changing his movement and leaning more while kicking, has shown significant improvement in Biggar's kicking skills. The positive development has come as a relief for Biggar, who is now fully fit ahead of the new season.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dan Biggar has improved his goal kicking technique under the guidance of Toulon's kicking coach Maxime Petitjean, crediting him with being a "coach of that calibre" who takes the time to explain things to players.
  • Petitjean advised Biggar to lean more when kicking from the left side of the field, which has shown significant improvement in Biggar's kicking skills.
  • The change in kicking technique has been a result of Petitjean's attention to detail, noticing that Biggar was too slumped at the end of the shot.
  • Biggar is now fully fit after a 9-month recovery from a freak back injury that made kicking for goal a difficult task.
  • The improvement in Biggar's kicking technique comes as a positive development ahead of the new season, with Toulon scheduled to host a friendly match against Perpignan next Friday.

Statistics:

  • Dan Biggar has spent hundreds of hours working on his kicking technique, but has seen significant improvement under Petitjean's guidance.
  • Biggar has credited Petitjean with being a "coach of that calibre" who takes the time to explain things to players, showing a deep understanding of the sport.
  • Biggar is now fully fit at the age of 29, a testament to his hard work and rehabilitation after a 9-month injury layoff.
  • The Premiership Rugby is facing financial instability, with three teams (Wasps, Worcester Warriors, and London Irish) collapsing during the 2022-23 season.
  • The UK's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Nicholas Bowler, has praised the Welsh Rugby Union for its contribution to the development of rugby in Kyrgyzstan.

Sources:

  • Var-martin interview with Dan Biggar (n.d.)
  • BBC Radio Bristol, Bristol Bears' chief operating officer Tom Tainton (n.d.)
  • Welsh Rugby Union press release (n.d.)
  • Exeter Chiefs rugby director Rob Baxter (n.d.)
  • Ambassador Nicholas Bowler to Kyrgyzstan press release (n.d.)
  • Kyrgyzstan national rugby team friendly match against Llandaff RFC (n.d.)

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