Dane Blacker Explained

Dane Blacker
Birth Name:Dane Blacker
Birth Date:1998 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Ynysybwl, Wales
Weight:78kg (172lb)
Ru Currentteam:Dragons
Ru Position:Scrum-half
Ru Amateuryears:2016–2019
Ru Amateurclubs:Pontypridd
Ru Amateurcaps:34
Ru Amateurpoints:(?)
Ru Amupdate:22 June 2019
Ru Clubyears:2016–2019
2017
2019–2023
2023–
Ru Proclubs:Cardiff Blues
Dragons
Scarlets
Dragons
Ru Clubcaps:7
2
53
14
Ru Clubpoints:(0)
(0)
(75)
(10)
Ru Clubupdate:11:26, 6 February 2024 (UTC)
Ru Nationalyears:
2017–2018
Ru Nationalteam:Wales U18
Wales U20
Ru Nationalcaps:
15
Ru Nationalpoints:
(15)
Ru Ntupdate:22 June 2019
Repsevensyears1:2018–2019
Repsevensteam1:Wales 7's
Repsevenscomp1:3
Ru Sevensupdate:22 June 2019
School:Coleg y Cymoedd

Dane Blacker (born 6 July 1998) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Dragons regional team as a scrum-half. He is a former Wales Under-20 international.[1] Blacker has previously played for Cardiff Rugby and the Scarlets.

Club career

Blacker came through the youth team at Pontypridd RFC, while a member of the Cardiff Blues academy.[2] Blacker made his debut for the Cardiff Blues regional team in 2016.

During the 2017–18 Pro14 season, Blacker joined the Dragons on a short term loan.[3] He appeared twice, scoring on his debut against Ulster.[4]

Ahead of the 2019/20 season, Blacker moved from Cardiff to the Scarlets.[5] Despite competing for the starting shirt with Wales internationals Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy, Blacker made more starts during the 2020–21 Pro14 season than any other scrum half for the Scarlets.[6] During this season, he was also the Scarlets top try scorer, touching down six times.[7] Blacker was voted Supporters Player of the Month back to back in April and May 2021.[8] He once again won the award in December 2022.[9]

On 13 April 2023, it was announced that Blacker would join the Dragons for the 2023–24 season, his second stint with the club following his 2017 loan.[10]

International career

Blacker was part of the Wales U20 team, representing them in 2017 and 2018 in the U20 Six Nations and the World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[11]

He has also represented Wales Sevens at numerous World Rugby Sevens Series events.

Blacker was selected in the Wales squad for the 2022 Autumn Internationals.[12]

Blacker was named on the bench for the Wales team against Georgia for the test on 19 November 2022, but was not substituted on and therefore did not make his test debut.[13] He was not selected for the final test against Australia.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dane Blacker. www.ultimaterugby.com. en. 2017-12-06.
  2. Web site: Orders . Mark . 2022-10-19 . Dane Blacker is Wales pick few saw coming after Cardiff exit and Scarlets fight . 2022-12-20 . WalesOnline . en.
  3. News: Dane Blacker heads to Dragons on loan. 2017-09-22. Cardiff Rugby Life. 2017-12-06. en-US.
  4. News: Ulster 52-25 Dragons . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2022-12-20.
  5. Web site: Danny Drake: New Zealand lock among three new players at Scarlets. BBC Sport. 20 June 2019. 21 October 2022.
  6. Web site: Orders . Mark . 2022-10-19 . Dane Blacker is Wales pick few saw coming after Cardiff exit and Scarlets fight . 2022-12-20 . WalesOnline . en.
  7. Web site: Dane Blacker . 2022-12-20 . Welsh Rugby Union Wales & Regions . en-GB.
  8. Web site: 2021-06-07 . Dane at the double for player of the month award . 2023-02-19 . Scarlets Rugby . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2023-01-06 . Dane Blacker voted Castore Player of the Month . 2023-02-19 . Scarlets Rugby . en-US.
  10. News: 13 April 2023 . Dragons sign scrum-half Blacker from Scarlets . BBC Sport . 13 April 2023.
  11. Web site: World Rugby U20 Championship: Scrum-half Dane Blacker returns for Wales. BBC Sport. 10 May 2018. 21 October 2022.
  12. Web site: Wales autumn rugby squad announcement as Wayne Pivac names five uncapped players. Wales Online. 18 October 2022. 20 October 2022.
  13. Web site: James . Ben . 2022-11-15 . Wales team v Georgia in full as Josh Macleod to finally get debut in six changes . 2022-12-20 . WalesOnline . en.