WELSH rugby hero Dan Biggar has backed the nation’s football superstar Gareth Bale to win the coveted BBC Wales Sports Personality award.

Both men have been named by a panel of experts among the eight contenders for the title, which will be decided by a public vote.

But the Ospreys star who scored 56 points as Wales reached the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup said the prize should go to Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid star scored seven goals to help Wales qualify for their first major finals in 57 years.

"I think it’s a huge honour to be nominated," said the outside half: "But if you look at the Welsh football team, how good a year they’ve had I think Gareth Bale almost single-handedly got them to the Euros. I think if we’re being truthful he is probably going to be the absolute favourite and quite rightly so."

Wales exceeded public expectations in the World Cup following a Six Nations campaign in which they were always chasing the leaders after losing their opening game. The number 10 said any accolades coming his way would be kept in perspective.

"Of course it’s nice to hear nice things about you but you’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt as well because sometimes you’re not playing quite so well or times are a little bit tougher. Then it’s only really your friends and family, and your die hard sort of supporters, who are there to support you through it. Look it’s great at the minute, things are going pretty well."

The points machine was speaking at the Oil4Wales depot in Three Cocks ahead of an appearance with fellow Welsh stars Dan Lydiate, Ken Owens and Scott Quinell at nearby Gwernyfed Rugby Club in Talgarth.

All four are rugby ambassadors for the Welsh oil brand established by rugby fan Colin Owens who brought the players to the club to celebrate the recent opening of the depot at Javel Industrial Estate.

He said: "We are proud of what we’re doing with the Welsh lads and proud of how they performed at the World Cup, it was phenomenal."

The six sportsmen and women nominated alongside Dan Biggar and Gareth Bale for the BBC title are Welsh football captain Ashley Williams, athlete Aled Sion Davies, Taekwondo champion Jade Jones, boxer Lee Selby, triathlete Non Stanford and cyclist Geraint Thomas.