Gareth Anscombe

Gareth Anscombe (born 10 May 1991) is a rugby union player who plays for URC side Scarlets and the Wales national rugby union team. He primarily plays at fly-half but can also play as a fullback. Anscombe is the son of former Auckland and Ulster coach Mark Anscombe.

Early career

Anscombe debuted for Auckland in the 2010 season, in his first year out of school. In 2011, he was the top point scorer at the IRB Junior World Championship and retained his place in the Auckland squad.

Club career

Anscombe made his debut for Auckland's Blues in 2012, coming on to replace Michael Hobbs in the round two match against the Chiefs in Hamilton. His starting debut was against the Bulls in round three, in which he scored all of the Blues points in a 29–23 win. Despite compelling form in the 2012 ITM Cup, where his pin-point accurate kicking helped Auckland to a finals appearance against eventual winners Canterbury, the Blues management seemed unmoved, and after John Kirwan took over the coaching of the Blues, Anscombe was delisted. It was announced that he would play for the Chiefs from the 2013 season. In 2013, he signed a contract extension with the Chiefs until 2014.

On 24 July 2014, Anscombe moved to the UK to sign for Welsh region Cardiff Blues on a long-term deal as he is Wales qualified through his mother. On 15 August 2019, Anscombe signed for regional rivals Ospreys after making the switch from Cardiff.

Anscombe left Ospreys at the end of the 2022-23 season as he moved to Japan to join Tokyo Sungoliath in the Top League competition for the 2023-24 season. However, his registration for the Japanese club was cancelled after suffering a groin injury which required surgery.

On 12 March 2024, Anscombe returned to the UK, signing for Gloucester in the English Premiership for the 2024-25 season.

On 7 May 2025, after a season in the Premiership, Anscombe would move to France to sign for Bayonne in the Top 14 for the 2025-26 season.

On July 28th 2026, after spending a season in France with Bayonne. It was announced that Gareth would be returning to Wales to play for the Scarlets for the 2026-2027 URC Season.

International career

New Zealand

Anscombe represented New Zealand at under-20 level; he started at first-five when New Zealand won the competition now known as the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2011. He made his full international debut for Wales versus Ireland on 8 August 2015 as a second-half replacement.

On Saturday 16 March 2019, Anscombe was named Guinness Man of the Match having scored 20 points in Wales's 25-7 Grand Slam-winning victory over Ireland at the Principality Stadium.