Scotland’s Nel calls it a day as injuries take their toll

Scotland and Edinburgh prop WP Nel revealed his decision to retire was driven by concerns around his body’s ability to deal with the weekly rigours of professional rugby.

The South Africa-born tighthead – who turns 38 next month – will call time on his career at the end of this season. Nel, who was unable to play in the recent Six Nations due to neck problems, confirmed fitness issues were taking a toll.

“It’s not a decision that came very easy but, I had to think about what does the future look like?” he said. “With another year, how would the body react to that. This season, I’ve struggled a little bit with my neck.

“It can feel like the body is not there any more, with recovery and stuff. It just felt right to say ‘right, let’s call it a day at the end of the season’. It’s right for the family.”

Nel arrived in Scotland in 2012 when he joined Edinburgh from

South African club Cheetahs. He want on to win 61 caps during an international career that saw involvement at the last three World Cups, while he made his 200th appearance for Edinburgh away to Stormers last Saturday. The 37-year-old (below) also welcomed four children into the world during his time in Scotland. “When I think back to when we arrived in 2012, it was probably only my second time out of South Africa, it was a new country, we didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “And to think where we are now, it’s been amazing.

“I was lying in bed this morning thinking what could I have done differently, and there was nothing. To have achieved what I have is just amazing.

“I treated every game as a special opportunity. It’s been a journey for the family. When we came here it was just the two of us – me and my wife – and now there are six of us.

“Edinburgh has been really good for us as a family.”