Tane Edmed

Last updated

Tane Edmed
Date of birth (2000-08-16) 16 August 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in) [1]
Weight91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb) [1]
School Trinity Grammar School
Notable relative(s) Steve Edmed (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Waratahs
Youth career
West Harbour
–2018 Trinity Grammar School
2020–2021 Waratahs Academy
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
–2019 Randwick ()
2020– Eastwood 36 (339)
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2019 Sydney 1 (6)
2024 North Harbour 10 (137)
Correct as of 5 October 2024
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021–2025 Waratahs 55 (254)
2026– ACT Brumbies 0 (0)
Correct as of 31 May 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022 Australia A 4 (2)
2024– Australia 1 (0)
2025 ANZAC XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 12 July 2025

Tane Edmed (born 16 August 2000), [2] [3] nicknamed "Táne" in New Zealand, [4] [5] is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the ACT Brumbies in the Super Rugby. His playing position is fly-half. He was named in the Waratahs squad for the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, [6] [7] where he made his Super Rugby debut. He previously represented the Sydney in the 2019 National Rugby Championship. [8]

Contents

Early life and youth career

Edmed was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 2000. [1] His father, Steve Edmed, was a former professional rugby league player who played over 150 games for the Balmain Tigers in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL). [9] [10] Edmed played junior rugby union for West Harbour in Sydney's Inner West and junior rugby league for the Leichhardt Wanderers and Wests Tigers. [1] [5] [9] He was educated at Sydney's Trinity Grammar School [1] [9] [11] where he would represent the school while playing for the Combined Associated Schools (CAS) 1st XV. [12] Edmed was then selected for the Australian Schools Barbarians in October 2018, playing fly-half against New Zealand Schoolboys. [11] In 2020, while playing colts rugby (youth) for Randwick, Edmed decided to make a move over to Eastwood in hopes of playing at a higher level. [12] Edmed commented to Behind The Ruck, "I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity and development Randwick gave me, but the move to Eastwood was purely opportunity based. Randwick had a lot of playmakers coming back into first grade, and I felt like a move to Eastwood would increase my chances of potentially playing in the Shute Shield. In saying that, Ben Batger made it very clear that a first grade spot wasn't guaranteed and that I would have to work for it." [12]

Career

Waratahs

Coming through the Waratahs Academy, Edmed signed his first professional contract (two-year deal) with the Waratahs in 2020 ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby AU season. [13] Edmed had moved from Shute Shield clubs Randwick to Eastwood that year, [12] [13] whilst training with the senior Waratahs squad part-time. [13] Edmed had already been exposed to professional rugby with Sydney in the National Rugby Championship (NRC), [14] however issues around the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the competition. [15]

Edmed made his Super Rugby debut in Round 1 (19 February 2021) against arch-rivals the Queensland Reds at Lang Park, Brisbane. [16] Edmed came on as a substitute in the 55th minute. The Waratahs lost 41–7. [17] For the rest of the season, Edmed saw few minutes of game-time, all coming as a substitute. [18] The Waratahs went winless for the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, recording an 0–13 record. [19]

After making two appearances off the bench for the Waratahs in the opening rounds of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season (2022), Edmed was named starting fly-half in their Round 6 clash against the Queensland Reds, replacing first-choice fly-half Ben Donaldson who suffered an ankle injury in the previous round. [20] Impressing with his mature game management and form, [20] Edmed started again at No. 10 in the following rounds before being made the starting fly-half for the rest of the season [18] after rotational fly-half Will Harrison suffered a severe knee injury. [21] Edmed's consistent performances were so impressive that rumours emerged suggesting he had attracted the attention of Perth-based Super Rugby rivals, the Western Force, particularly amid comments that the Waratahs possessed an excess of fly-halves and Edmed's contract expiry at the end of the season. [9] [20] [22] Edmed racked-up 76 points for the Waratahs, including one try. [18] The Waratahs finished in the Quarter-finals under new head coach Darren Coleman. [23] In May 2022, it was revealed that Edmed had signed a new two-year deal with the Waratahs. [24]

Edmed began the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season following his promising 2022 campaign, where he had emerged as a key player at fly-half. Edmed played at the first-choice Waratahs' first-choice fly-half for the opening three rounds of the season, scoring 40 points in the process, including one try. [18] However, his 2023 campaign was significantly disrupted after Round 4 by a back injury, which sidelined him for 10 weeks during the early rounds of the competition. [25] As a result, Edmed played just three more matches during the season, or seven in total. [18]

In 2024, Edmed played 10 out of 13 games Super Rugby games as the starting fly-half in a very unsuccessful Waratahs season. [18] The Waratahs, who finished wooden-spooners, [26] swapped Edmed with Will Harrison toward the latter end of the season. [27] In an effort to regain full match fitness and experience a different playing environment, [28] [29] Edmed joined North Harbour in New Zealand's Bunnings National Provincial Championship (NPC). [29] His performances across the campaign were widely regarded as a breakthrough. [30] [31] Over 10 matches, Edmed scored 137 points, [18] making him the leading point-scorer of the entire 2024 Bunnings NPC season. [32] His average of 13.7 points per game included a record performance against Manawatu, where he recorded 33 points (most for the club by a player in a match) through two tries, three penalties, and seven conversions — one of the most prolific individual performances of the tournament. [28] Despite North Harbour finishing 10th overall with only three wins, Edmed's attacking output and tactical control were considered a highlight of their campaign. His form in New Zealand earned him a call-up to the Australia national team. [4] In August 2024, Edmed re-signed with the Waratahs for 2025. [33]

In 2025, Edmed operated primarily in a secondary role to Lawson Creighton in the Waratahs' No. 10 jersey. [34] Despite serving as the team's chief goal-kicker and finishing the season as leading point-scorer, [18] he was limited to just five starts across thirteen matches. [18] Despite the team's improvement from the previous season under new head coach Dan McKellar, the Waratahs finished 8th and subsequently missed finals. [35] [36]

ACT Brumbies

In July 2025, the ACT Brumbies announced they had signed Edmed, who was in the final year of his contract with the Waratahs, on a two-year deal, beginning in 2026. [37]

International career

In October 2022, Edmed was called-up to the Australia A team for their Pacific Nations Cup and 2022 tour of Japan. [38] Edmed's inclusion was designed to provide game time to emerging fly-halves (including Ben Donaldson) and to assess his readiness for elevation to the Wallabies. [39] Edmed played in four matches across the campaign, and slotted a game-winning conversion against Japan XV in Fukuoka. [40]

In October 2024, Edmed was invited into Wallabies training for the Spring Tour, considered for inclusion in either the Wallabies or Australia XV squads. [41] Edmed was named on the bench for Australia's match against Ireland on 30 November. [42] He made his international test debut on 30 November 2024 after coming on as a 73rd minute substitute. However, after just three minutes on the pitch Edmed was subbed off with a knock to the head, which required a head injury assessment (HIA). [43] Australia lost 19–22 against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. [44]

In July 2025, featured as the ANZAC XV fly-half against the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide on their 2025 tour of Australia. [45] The Lions won 0–48. [46] The following month Edmed was one of 34 players named in coach Joe Schmidt's Wallabies squad for their opening two tests against South Africa in the 2025 Rugby Championship. [47] Ahead of the first test, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt made a late reversal on the starting lineup by calling up Edmed onto the bench as back-up for James O'Connor after Ben Donaldson suffered an injury, replacing back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny in the squad to avoid going into the Springboks Test without a second playmaker. [48] [49]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tane Edmed | Player Profile | Wallabies Rugby". wallabies.rugby. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025.
  2. Mockford, Sarah (28 June 2022). "Hotshot: Waratahs fly-half Tane Edmed". Rugby World .
  3. "Tane Edmed – ESPN". ESPN.
  4. 1 2 Williamson, Nathan (22 October 2024). "'A bit much at times': Wallabies call-up Edmed reflects on Kiwi love, NPC experience and 'Táne' nickname". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 Grant, Ben (host) (16 December 2024). "S1 EP1: Bryn Hall & Tane Edmed". This'll be good (Podcast).
  6. "NSW Waratahs confirm full roster ahead of Super Rugby AU" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. "Edmed signs first professional contract" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. "NRC Team Hub: All the lineups, kick-off times and broadcast info for round two". Rugby.com.au. 5 September 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Payten, Iain; Decent, Tom (1 May 2022). "'Too much emotion for me to handle': Waratahs rookie opens up on viral interview". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022.
  10. Decent, Tom (4 March 2024). "Why Edmed won't follow his father – and Nawaqanitawase – to league … just yet". The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Aus-A Teams, 1995–2018 | Schools Rugby" (PDF). schoolsrugby.com.au. Australian Schools. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Cook, Paul (18 October 2020). "Finals Fever: Eastwood's unlikely double act carving it up". Behind The Ruck. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 "Edmed signs first professional contract". nsw.rugby. New South Wales Rugby Union. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021.
  14. "Tane Edmed – Player Statistics – It's Rugby". It's Rugby.
  15. "Sport: NRC cancellation a blow for Fijian Drua rugby team". Radio New Zealand . 4 June 2020.
  16. "Super Rugby AU – Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs". nsw.rugby.
  17. Doyle, Michael (19 February 2021). "Queensland Reds sound warning shot, beating NSW Waratahs 41–7 in Super Rugby AU opener". ABC News .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tane Edmed: Stats – All Rugby". All Rugby.
  19. Decent, Tom (12 June 2021). "Waratahs finish 2021 without a win as Perese's Wallabies call-up in doubt". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021.
  20. 1 2 3 Payten, Iain (12 April 2022). "Three into 10 shirt won't go: Oversupply of playmakers biting at Tahs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022.
  21. Doran, Christy (25 April 2022). "Triple whammy: Australia's best goal kicker out for a year after horror knee injury". Fox Sports Australia . News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022.
  22. "The most impressive rookie and the player who has exceeded expectations in Super Rugby Pacific". RugbyPass . 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022.
  23. "Chiefs end Waratahs' Super season". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 4 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022.
  24. Skippers, David (31 May 2022). "Super Rugby Pacific: Tane Edmed inks Waratahs contract extension". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022.
  25. Robinson, Georgina (19 March 2023). "Injury woes pile up for struggling Waratahs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023.
  26. "Waratahs to part ways with coach Darren Coleman at end of season". ESPN. 20 May 2024.
  27. "Super Rugby Pacific 2024: Round 11 line-ups, predictions, odds". ESPN. 1 May 2024.
  28. 1 2 Williamson, Nathan (14 September 2024). "Tane takes over as Edmed sets record in impressive North Harbour victory in NPC". Rugby.com.au . Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Around the Traps: Edmed heads off to join North Harbour". rugbynews.net.au. 28 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 November 2024.
  30. Worthington, Sam (16 October 2024). "'Pretty crazy what a new environment can do': Record breaking NZ stint stamps new Test contender". Nine.com.au .
  31. Morton, Finn (15 October 2024). "What Wallabies hopeful Tane Edmed took out of stint in New Zealand's NPC". RugbyPass . Archived from the original on 9 November 2024.
  32. "STATS WRAP: Bunnings NPC". provincial.rugby. New Zealand Rugby. 7 October 2024.
  33. "Edmed re-signs with the Waratahs". nsw.rugby. New South Wales Rugby Union. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024.
  34. Payten, Iain (9 June 2025). "The Waratahs missed the finals. Now a Wallaby of theirs is off to the Brumbies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  35. Drennan, Jonathan (31 May 2025). "Waratahs' season over after humiliating defeat in Auckland". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025.
  36. "Waratahs' Super Rugby finals hopes crushed in ugly thrashing by Blues". Guardian Australia . Guardian Media Group. 31 May 2025. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025 via Australian Associated Press.
  37. "Brumbies sign Wallabies fly half Edmed on two-year deal". brumbies.rugby. ACT Brumbies. 15 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  38. Tucker, Jim (6 October 2022). "No.10s Duel For Wallabies Tour as Australia A Blood Son of a Gun". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.
  39. Harper, Tony (8 October 2022). "REACTION: 'What the tour is built for' – magic Edmed moment seals win, Banks blasts back". The Roar .
  40. "Edmed nails game-winner for Aussie A". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. 8 October 2022.
  41. Worthington, Sam (16 October 2024). "'Pretty crazy what a new environment can do': Record breaking NZ stint stamps new Test contender". Nine.com.au. Nine Entertainment.
  42. Williamson, Nathan (29 November 2024). "Edmed set for debut as Wallabies recall stars for Ireland Test". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.
  43. "Wallabies rally around Edmed after three-minute debut". Rugby.com.au. 2 December 2024.
  44. Pentony, Luke (1 December 2024). "Wallabies go down 22–19 to Ireland in brave display in final Test of spring tour". ABC News.
  45. Doran, Christy (10 July 2025). "All eyes on Edmed as playmaker gets chance to impress Wallabies selectors in AUNZ alongside eight All Blacks". The Roar.
  46. Pentony, Luke; Smale, Simon (12 July 2025). "British and Irish Lions thrash AUNZ XV 48–0 in final tour match before first Test against Wallabies". ABC News.
  47. Williamson, Nathan (7 August 2025). "Edmed, Salakaia-Loto named in Wallabies squad for Springboks Tests". Rugby.com.au .
  48. Linden, Julian (15 August 2025). "South Africa vs. Australia: Wallabies team for Rugby Championship Test announced". The Herald Sun . News Corp Australia.
  49. Doran, Christy (15 August 2025). "Edmed to face Boks as Schmidt backflips on Wallabies' bizarre 6-2 bench split call". The Roar.