DAN BIGGAR: Wales’ Rugby World Cup gets off to the perfect start, taking local recommendations from Aaron Ramsey… and choosing my wife over Prince William!
- The Wales fly-half shares his Rugby World Cup diary exclusively with Mail Sport
- He revealed what the team discussed with Prince William in the dressing room
- But some of his team-mates are unhappy with his barber recommendation
- Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results
- Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results
As a Wales squad we’re in a good place after wins over Fiji and Portugal. From meeting Prince William and getting texts from Siya Kolisi to picking Aaron Ramsey’s brains, it’s been a busy week in the Nice sunshine.
SUNDAY
Prince William was in our changing room after the win over Fiji. As I came in, I’d had three missed calls from my wife, Alex, but I thought it was going to be pretty awkward if I had to break off my conversation with the future King!
Alex was phoning again and I left it to the last minute to answer because I was in conversation with William.
When there was a pause, I said: ‘I’m really sorry, my wife is calling and she’s outside and wants to say hello.’ William said: ‘Your wife is far more important than me – go ahead.’
Prince William was in our dressing room after the match against Fiji (pictured, with head coach Warren Gatland)
We asked him what he thought of the big tattoos across Josh Adams’s chest but we didn’t get much of a nibble!
We’ve met him a few times and he’s always brilliant with the boys. He told us that his kids are watching a lot of rugby at the minute.
We asked him what he thought of the big tattoos across Josh Adams’s chest but we didn’t get much of a nibble!
MONDAY
I woke up to a voice note from Cheslin Kolbe saying Siya Kolisi had asked for my contact details. Later on, I opened up a WhatsApp from an unknown number. It was Siya. His message said: ‘Hey bro, hope you’re well. Just wanted to say well done to you and your boys. Loved your passion for the game. All the best for the rest of the tournament.’
To get that message from someone like him made me feel a million dollars. I listen to that more than some of the ex-players trying to keep themselves relevant!
We travelled from Bordeaux to Nice on a chartered flight. I have roomed with Tomas Francis since 2015. He brings pick and mix to the party! He’s well organised and as soon as we get somewhere new, he moves the beds around so we get as much room as possible.
To get a message from South Africa captain Siya Kolisi made me feel like a million dollars
TUESDAY
We had a bit of sea recovery and then a units review. It felt like the media reaction was a bit negative in the days after the Fiji win with chat about us being lucky.
I thought the coaches got it bang on in the review. It showed one clip of Fiji’s second try where Nick Tompkins had just slightly over-chased in defence. Nick said: ‘I didn’t know what the f*** I was doing.’ That broke the ice!
Matt Dawson sent me a really nice message. It said: ‘Love the way you held players to account. That’s what you need to do!’ It made me realise if I’m getting messages from World Cup winners like Dawson and Kolisi, I must be doing something right.
Warren Gatland named the team for Portugal and there was some niggle to the afternoon session.
WEDNESDAY
My body had just about recovered from the Fiji game! I only did a bit of running yesterday because my back was spasming. We’ve been practising drop-goals, especially after watching George Ford. His display was one of the best I’ve seen.
THURSDAY
We’ve just moved into a new house in Toulon where I play club rugby. It was nice to get home on our day off. We watched the France and Uruguay game and played Gin rummy. I took £20 off Gareth Davies. Our card school is split into groups. There’s the ‘Premier League’ — me, Liam Williams, Gareth, Henry Thomas and Tomos Williams. Gareth Anscombe sometimes sneaks in. Then the ‘Championship’ — Aaron Wainwright, Tomas, Adam Beard and Dewi Lake. In the ‘Conference’ it’s Rio Dyer, Louis Rees-Zammit and the young kids.
Us Welsh stick together! Former Nice player Aaron Ramsey has been sharing tips on the city
Those of us not playing on matchday did a weights session and some bike work in the morning
We were relieved to get the bonus point that gives us 10 points out of 10 – if you’d offered that a few weeks ago we’d have bitten your hand off
FRIDAY
Aaron Ramsey played football for Nice and he’s been like my PA this week. Us Welsh stick together! I can only apologise to him as he must be sick of my name coming up on his phone. I’ve been asking for recommendations so I owe him a nice bottle of red.
I brought a barber in from Toulon and a few of the boys want to fine me because they’re not happy with their trims
SATURDAY
Match day. Those of us not playing did a weights session and some bike work in the morning, then I warmed up with the team as normal. It was a pretty strange match. We struggled to get much control of the game which was frustrating and some of their backs were electric. We were relieved to get the bonus point that gives us 10 points out of 10. If you’d offered that a few weeks ago we’d have bitten your hand off.
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