The Waratahs have been left scrambling for options at five-eighth after the Brumbies poached one-Test Wallabies playmaker Tane Edmed.
Edmed, who has been with the Waratahs for five years, was courted heavily by the Brumbies and coach Stephen Larkham, who targeted the 24-year-old as a replacement for the departing Noah Lolesio.
NSW coach Dan McKellar had been keen to retain Edmed, but the 24-year-old told Tahs teammates at the weekend he needed a fresh start and that he had chosen to play under Larkham at the Brumbies.
Edmed has signed with the Canberra franchise for two years, according to informed sources who requested anonymity in order to speak freely.
The redhead, who has won 55 caps for NSW since debuting in 2020, will still be eligible for selection for the Waratahs for their tour match against the British and Irish Lions at Allianz Stadium on July 5.
Whether McKellar uses Edmed in that clash remains to be seen.
Tane Edmed is on his way to Canberra.Credit: Getty Images
With Edmed moving south, the Waratahs only have two five-eighths in their main squad for 2026: Jack Bowen and Lawson Creighton.
Both players were used by McKellar in the 2025 season.Creighton started in the No.10 role in games mid-season and Bowen was given his only run-on start in the final round loss to the Blues in Auckland.
Creighton came to the Waratahs this season after being recruited from the Reds, and Bowen, 21, has been at the Waratahs for three years. He debuted in 2023 and has 12 caps for the Waratahs, but only two as a starter.
The son of former Wallaby Scott Bowen is the standout No.10 at Shute Shield level and along with Teddy Wilson, steered Easts to a drought-breaking premiership last year.
Promising Junior Wallabies No.10 Joey Fowler, who is in the Waratahs academy, played in tour matches and trials for NSW in the off-season.
Tane Edmed’s debut for the Wallabies was cut short due to a head knock.Credit: Sportsfile via Getty Images
The Tahs have active been in the market searching for additional options at five-eighth, according to informed sources, and discussions were held with the Tahs’ 2014 premiership playmaker Bernard Foley, and with Will Harrison, who are both playing in Japan.
Foley spoke with Joe Schmidt about the prospect of a move home, and the Wallabies coach said on the Kick Offs and Kick Ons podcast last week that he’d had contact with the former Test No.10.
But after Foley steered Kubota to a League One final last week, the veteran No.10 chose to extend his contract with the Japanese club for another year.
Harrison is also unlikely to return to the Tahs after initially giving it some consideration, according to informed sources.
The loss of Edmed will bring a spotlight on the Waratahs’ high turnover of young five-eighths. Edmed came through the Waratahs’ junior system with Harrison and Ben Donaldson, and the trio were seen as central to the future. But after Donaldson was let go to the Western Force, NSW focused on Harrison and Edmed in 2023. All three have now departed.
Ben Donaldson, Will Harrison and Tane Edmed were once rivals for the Waratahs No.10.Credit: Getty
As with previous seasons, Edmed found himself in and out of the Waratahs’ starting side this year.
On the back of a successful stint with North Harbour in the NPC last year, Edmed won a call-up to the Wallabies’ squad for their spring tour, and he made a Test debut off the bench in the final Test against Ireland, albeit lasting only three minutes due to a head knock.
Edmed started the year in the NSW No.10 jersey, and there was expectation he would push Lolesio, Donaldson and Tom Lynagh for a Wallabies role against the Lions. But Edmed was benched behind Creighton after three rounds, and he even found himself out of the Tahs’ squad altogether mid-season, playing club rugby for Eastwood.
Edmed eventually won a recall but was benched again in the final round behind Bowen.
With Lolesio departing to play for Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, the Brumbies now have Edmed and Declan Meredith on board for next season, and possibly Jack Debreczeni as well. The veteran is weighing up playing on or retiring and moving into coaching.
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