IN-DEMAND NEL NOT READY TO CALL IT QUITS

WP NEL wears the look of a man carrying the world on his shoulders at times. Perhaps that is no surprise given the Edinburgh tighthead is juggling multiple demands right now. they include playing for club and country, coaching, running the South african meat business he recently bought from team-mate Pierre Schoeman, and helping to look after his four children. Little wonder it can often feel like an effort simply getting out of bed in the morning. the 35-year-old toyed with the idea of retiring at the end of last season before extending his stay in the capital for at least one more year. But, once again, he is making noises that the time may be approaching for him to finally hang up his boots to focus on other pursuits. Perhaps he was being self-deprecating when he admitted he doesn’t know too many of this weekend’s opponents, Stormers, as they are all much younger than him, but there is a definite sense that this is the start of a farewell campaign for the Scotland veteran. ‘I don’t know how much longer I’ll keep going,’ said Nel. ‘It all depends on the body. Some days I get up out of bed and ask myself why I am still doing this! ‘During the week it is getting tough and it’s not that easy to get up for every training session, especially now with the cold days. It’s tough but, while the body is healthy, I’ll keep going. On some days, especially on game days, you get all the hype and everything and you think: “this is why I’m still doing it”. ‘But I’m at a time where I need to look at something different because rugby is not for ever. the business is something I hope will take off after rugby. ‘My life is about time-management but the last two or three weeks have been tough.’ Nel has been in Scotland for almost a decade and has plenty of experience to share with up-and-coming talent, something Edinburgh forwards coach Steve Lawrie and Scotland scrum coach Pieter de Villiers are happy to utilise. ‘the coaching is something that came along, something I started last year,’ revealed Nel. ‘I love to put something back into the boys and hopefully they take it on. ‘Me and Stevie will have a chat about things. I’m chatting with Pieter as well. they pick my brains and I pick theirs and together we put something together for the boys. We all learn together. It’s nice.’ Nel’s son, henre, turns 12 next week and is following in his father’s footsteps by attending mini-rugby sessions — but only if he feels like it. ‘My boy is almost like me,’ said Nel with a smile. ‘he chooses the tournaments he wants to do. he looks at the weather and says: “Daddy, I’m not keen to do this”. ‘I’m not the kind of dad who will pressure my boy to do it. I will just push him in the right direction.’