Proud.

It won’t be the first time Dan Biggar steps out on a pitch as a British and Irish Lions this weekend – but it most certainly will be an emotional one for the Welshman.

Biggar starts at 10 this weekend for their curtain-raiser against Japan at Murrayfield, not long after the death of his mother, who watched him being named in the squad back in May from a hospital bed, battling a long illness.

Elizabeth Biggar was Dan’s “biggest supporter” and despite not knowing her faith at the time, she encouraged him to travel to South Africa no matter what.

In a touching tribute to her in his column for MailOnline over the weekend, Biggar said he hope to use this tour to do her proud.

“I would like to use this column to mention my special mum, Liz,” he said.

“From the day I started playing rugby, she was always my biggest supporter. She was always there. This week has been strange.

“Normally, she would always be on the phone asking who I’ve been spending time with and wanting to know the ins and outs of what I’ve been doing. We would speak all the time and it was a big comfort for me. It’s been hard.”

“Mum watched the Lions squad announcement from the hospital and she was so pleased when my name was read out,” he writes.

“At the time, when we didn’t know what would happen with her health, she told me to go to South Africa whatever the circumstances.

“That summed her up: always putting other people first.

“I usually keep my job separate from any emotional things back home, but I hope that I can use this tour to do her proud.”

Lions coach Steve Tandy, meanwhile, has paid tribute to Biggar for his incredible professionalism.

“It’s really tough for Dan,” said Tandy.

“It’s awful to see anybody losing their mother but the way he has handled himself is absolute class.

“He is one of the best people who I have worked with who can compartmentalise and get on with his work.

“How he is conducting himself, his mum and his family would be very proud of how he is doing.”