Nel leaves door open to retirement in Scotland
EDINBURGH tighthead WP Nel has hinted that he could finish his career with the club before moving into coaching.
The 34- year- old forward, who is set to play his 150th game for Edinburgh against Glasgow at Scotstoun tomorrow night, would like to keep playing beyond the expiry of his current contract in the summer. He knows that retirement cannot be too far away, but he believes that, whether playing or coaching, he still has a lot to offer Scottish rugby.
“Look, I just don’t know if anyone wants to look at me anymore,” the Scotland tighthead said when asked if he hoped to get offers from elsewhere for next season or would rather stay in the capital.
“I would love to work with the younger generation, and I’m trying to work with the younger boys at Edinburgh at the moment. I was helping at Watsonians before lockdown, and I’m trying to work with the younger boys at Edinburgh at the moment – just doing the odd thing here and there and giving them some pointers.”
Capped 40 times by Scotland after moving here from South Africa in 2012, Nel admitted that it had been hard over the past year to see less of his family back home. But, while he hopes to be able to visit South Africa again more frequently once Covid restrictions are over, he explained that he was likely to stay in this country after retirement.
He added: “My family’s happy, and the kids are starting in school now. Scotland’s all that they know, so it will come down to a family decision. I’m quite happy either way – although we’ll probably end up staying in Scotland, because my wife is very happy here.”