Jack Blain hopes Duhan van der Merwe’s departure can open the door for him at Edinburgh

Jack Blain is hoping Duhan van der Merwe’s summer departure can open the door for him to play more regularly for Edinburgh next season.

Jack Blain in action for Edinburgh against Munster. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

Van der Merwe had agreed a deal to join Worcester after an impressive four-year spell in the capital.

Blain, who recently turned 21, has just signed a new contract with Edinburgh and is highly regarded. He started against Munster last weekend and will hope to feature when Scarlets visit BT Murrayfield on Saturday.

“I’ve really enjoyed the season so far. I’m hoping to keep kicking on and getting more game-time,” he said.

“I’ve only played two games on the wing this season for Edinburgh so I’m still learning with every game. Duhan is a great player and when he leaves there’s going to be an opportunity there and there will be healthy competition in the back three. So I want to do all that I can to try to impress.”

Blain, a Scotland under-20 international, has played mainly on the wing but has also been deployed at full-back.

He knows that similar versatility has stood his Edinburgh team-mate Damien Hoyland in good stead.

“Before I played my first game I had always viewed myself as a winger. But I played full-back against Connacht and it’s been beneficial for me because it’s made me have a greater knowledge of the back three as a whole.

“I’d be more comfortable on the wing but it’s good to be able to play both positions. Damien Hoyland is a good example of someone who’s a winger but transitioned to full-back and is doing really well there. So it’s not a bad thing to have.”

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