Darren Edwards (born 25 March 1974 in Maesteg, Wales) is a former rugby union player. A scrum-half, he was a member of the 2003 Wales national rugby union team and he played for Wales, Wales A, Sevens, Under-21, Students and Under-18 levels. Edwards also played for the Barbarians against England, Scotland and Wales.

Darren Edwards
Date of birth (1974-03-25) 25 March 1974 (age 50)
Place of birthMaesteg, Wales
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996–1997
1997
1997–2000
2000–2001
2001–2006
2006–2008
Saracens
Bedford
London Welsh
Newport
London Irish
Leeds
1
3
71
6
123
37
()
Coaching career
Years Team
2010
2011–2014
2014–2019
2019–2020
2020–2021
2022–2023
Wales U20
Newport Gwent Dragons
Bath
Wales Sevens
Wales Women (interim)
Ospreys (defence)
Correct as of 12 November 2023

Professional career edit

Edwards began his senior playing career with Saracens in 1996 and joined Newport RFC in 2000, playing 21 times for the club. He also made more than 100 appearances for London Irish and played for Bedford and London Welsh before ending at Leeds Carnegie. He played in the 2002 Powergen Cup Final at Twickenham, as London Irish defeated the Northampton Saints.[1]

Edwards retired from playing at the end of the 2007–2008 season to take up Coaching at Harlequins.

Coaching career edit

In June 2009 he joined Newport Gwent Dragons as attack coach, replacing Lyn Jones. During 2010 Edwards was head coach of the Wales Under 20 team. In April 2011 Edwards became Newport Gwent Dragons head coach after initially taking the role in a caretaker capacity following the departure of Paul Turner.[2] Edwards left the Dragons in February 2014.[3]

In June 2014 Edwards joined Bath as first team coach.[4] Edwards departed Bath at the end of the 2018–19 Premiership season, taking up a position with Wales Sevens soon after.[5]

Edwards was named as interim head coach of Wales Women in 2020, after the departure of previous head coach Rowland Phillips.[6] His involvement with the team continued in late 2021, assuming the role of skills coach.[7]

In 2022, Edwards joined the Ospreys as defence coach until the end of the season.[8] Ahead of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship season, this position was made permanent.[9] Edwards had departed the club by the beginning of the 2023–24 season.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Exiles claim Cup glory". BBC Sport. 20 April 2002. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  2. ^ Edwards appointed Dragons head coach
  3. ^ Edwards leaves Dragons
  4. ^ Edwards joins Bath
  5. ^ "Edwards named Wales sevens coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Edwards named interim Wales women coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Edwards takes on skills role as Rachel Taylor resigns at Wales". The Rugby Paper. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Ospreys bring in Edwards as defence coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Meet the Coaches – Darren Edwards | Ospreys". www.ospreysrugby.com. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Ospreys name Jones as new defence coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

External links edit