Scotland International Duhan van der Merwe Extends Contract with Edinburgh

Scotland international Duhan van der Merwe, who holds the record as the country’s leading try scorer with 30 Test scores, has committed his future to Edinburgh by signing a two-year contract extension. Edinburgh Rugby announced that the 29-year-old player is set to stay with the team until “at least” the 2027 Rugby World Cup. His prior agreement was scheduled to conclude at the close of the ongoing season. This renewed commitment is considered beneficial for Scottish Rugby, which is working to retain its international talent within Scotland, facing competition from professional leagues in England, France, and Japan. While national captain Sione Tuipulotu finalized new terms with Glasgow last month, Warriors fly-half Tom Jordan is slated to move to Bristol Bears once the season concludes. This season, Van der Merwe has recorded four tries across six matches for Edinburgh. Last month, he secured his 30th try for Scotland during their victory against Australia, establishing himself as the nation’s leading Test try scorer. Van der Merwe, who was part of the British and Irish Lions tour in 2021, is currently in his second tenure with Edinburgh. He rejoined the club in 2022 after the dissolution of Worcester Warriors, where he had played for two years. Overall, he has accumulated 45 tries in 98 appearances for Edinburgh since his initial signing from Montpellier in 2017. Van der Merwe expressed his sentiments, stating, “This club and city are my home.” He added, “My wife and I love it here and I’m incredibly proud to represent the city and our supporters.” He further commented on his decision, saying, “I’d be lying if I said other clubs didn’t express interest, but Edinburgh is home for me, and my connection to the club and our supporters were a massive driver in my decision to re-sign.”