Dan Edwards and the Future of Welsh Rugby: The Battle for the Number 10 Jersey
Image Credit: Dave Griffiths
Wales is going through a transition as a national team. Many new names have been coming to where the famous red jersey after the 2023 World Cup. Now Dan Biggar has retired from international rugby. There has been much talk about who will wear the number 10 jersey in the future. Sam Costelow and Ioan Lloyd have started at fly-half for Wales in the Six Nations. Yet, Ospreys' fly half Dan Edwards looks to be a promising talent for Wales in the future.
Dan Edwards
Edwards is coming off an awe-inspiring performance against Ulster. He secured a drop goal to win the game. Since debuting for Ospreys in 2023 at the age of 20, he has impressed. Before joining the Ospreys, Edwards played for Aberavon and Swansea. He even won the Young Player of the Year award as part of Aberavon in 2022. Edwards has played for Wales under 20s. Someday he hopes to join the senior side. He has the skills to succeed in the game and is very accurate with his goal-kicking.
The Ten Battle Now
Costelow and Lloyd are the current fly halves starting for Wales. They both have shown promising signs when on the field but have also shown some negatives. Costelow offers the type of game that Warren Gatland has liked over the years. Lloyd is more of an attacking player who can produce something out of nothing. They both had starts in the Six Nations. But, it's key to remember that they are young and need time to grow. You could argue that Edwards has as much potential as the two and should have the chance to shine.
Options For The Future
It will be interesting to see what fly half will step up for Wales in the coming years. As stated before, Wales has Lloyd and Costelow. Yet, they also have Cai Evans from Newport, who has some international caps. In Cardiff, you have Tinus de Beer, who will be eligible for Wales in a couple of years. Callum Sheedy is coming to Cardiff from Bristol, which is exciting for Welsh rugby. Wales has options at ten, but it's a matter of who will step up to the international level. Edwards has shown he has the potential to be a great player for Wales in the future.
Edwards is a great player. He has the potential to become world-class if given the chance. He is only 20.