Dan Biggar: Losing coaches would be 'massive blow' for Wales
Sunday 18 October 2015 16:10, UK
Dan Biggar believes it would be a "massive, massive blow" if Wales' much-vaunted coaching team does not remain intact.
While Wales head coach Warren Gatland has a long-term deal that incorporates the Japan 2019 World Cup, defence specialist Shaun Edwards is shortly out of contract and attack coach Rob Howley's existing terms expire next summer.
The group also includes forwards coach Robin McBryde and skills man Neil Jenkins.
Since Gatland took charge in 2008 Wales have reached a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final and won three Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams.
Their 2015 World Cup challenge was ended on Saturday when they went down 23-19 to South Africa.
Former rugby league star Edwards, 49, is regularly linked to a job with England, but fly-half Biggar, who was superb for Wales throughout the World Cup, says the players desperately want to keep all of their coaching staff.
"Absolutely. That has been the key to our success since they have been involved," he said.
"It is the consistency of boys rocking up to camp on a Monday morning and knowing exactly what we are going to get from the coaching team and what the sessions are. That is a key part.
"Every single person in our back-room staff plays a massive role, from the masseuse to the head coach. If we can keep as many of those together as possible, it gives us a great chance moving forward.
"It will be a massive, massive blow if we didn't hold on to any of them, and it is what has been so key for us, that consistency and familiarity of what goes on in our camp.
"It has been like a club side, you can't describe it any other way. We have been a club side for the last four months and it has been pretty special to be a part of."
