Dan Biggar has pledged his loyalty to Northampton next season despite their sacking of director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
It was Mallinder who convinced Biggar to leave the Ospreys at the end of this campaign for three years with the Saints.
But despite Mallinder’s dismissal this week, Wales fly-half Biggar has told the Aviva Premiership club he will not look for any way out of his deal which is understood to be worth £650,000-a-year.
The 27-year-old Lions tourist – who was at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend as a TV pundit to watch the Ospreys win 43-32 in the European Champions Cup – has contacted Northampton chief executive Mark Darbon.
Darbon confirmed: “I spoke to Dan yesterday. He was here on Saturday, and he is incredibly excited.
“He saw a disappointing performance from us in a venue that wasn’t full. But he is incredibly committed and itching to get here and get on with it. Nothing has changed over the last couple of days.”
In September, Biggar rejected an improved offer to remain at the Ospreys on a national dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Mallinder – who had been at Northampton for a decade – was instrumental in convincing Biggar to move and had described the No.10 as “world class”.
He said at the time, “He is not only skilful but I like his attitude. That desire to win and to be a winner at the top level.
“As a person he’s fantastic and as a competitor he’s a fighter. He’ll be good for us. You want leaders in your teams. Look at Owen Farrell, for example, you see what a leader he is driving Saracens. Your half‑backs are key to that and that’s why he is such a good signing for us.”
Biggar will join as his Wales teammate George North moves the other way, having opted to return to Wales.
But he will be joining Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams, Ross Moriarty, Jamie Roberts, Luke Charteris, Tomas Francis and Rhys Priestland who also play their club rugby across the Severn Bridge.
