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Scotland scrum-half Scott Steele forced to retire aged 30
Former Scotland and Edinburgh scrum-half Scott Steele has announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 30.
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The four-cap Scotland international has decided to hang up his boots after having his third hip operation.
Steele joined Edinburgh at the beginning of the season from Harlequins, but has failed to play a minute of rugby due to his latest hip issue.
The scrum-half had represented Leicester Tigers and London Irish prior to his move to Harlequins. During his time at the Stoop he earned his first Scotland cap against Wales in October 2020.
He went on to earn three more caps, including an appearance off the bench in Scotland’s first win against England at Twickenham in 38 years in 2021.
A statement released by Steele reads: “After three years of battling with injuries and whilst currently recovering from my third hip operation, I’ve decided to retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.
“My career has way exceeded any expectations I first had when it all started at my local rugby club Dumfries Saints. To go on and represent such prestigious clubs as Leicester Tigers, London Irish, Harlequins and to get capped for Scotland four times is something I’m extremely proud of.
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“Thank you to my family and close friends for their support which gave me the belief to chase my dream job and stick at it for 13 long years. Thank you to all the coaches and support staff at all the teams I’ve been involved with. Thanks to the various medical teams for looking after me and for getting me back onto the picth.
“To the loyal fans of the teams I’ve represented, I cannot thank you enough. Huge thank you to everyone at Edinburgh Rugby who have been great during my extremely frustrating season with them.
“Finally, thanks to all my teammates over the years. You are the reason I gave my absolute all every time I took the field and you are the reason why I’ve enjoyed the last 13 years so much.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope he gets to hoist the silverware in a week’s time.
1 Go to commentsIt was a great game. And the Saracens went down swinging. Love to root against them, they’re such a formidable rugby club. It’s not going to be the same without Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, etc. That’s some big teeth they’re going to lose.
1 Go to comments🤣🤣 cry babies in the comments . I hope razor gets his boy mounga . It’ll be lovely to see all the haters swallow there words … doesn’t take a genius to know mounga will preform exceptionally well with a forward pack that actually goes forward and not back wards … watch the space .
10 Go to commentsGreat news Scott Robertson and NZR are pursuing the avenue of getting Richie Mo’unga back from Japan. They are perfectly within their rights to do so.Richie is the best around still as he showed in last weeks Japanese Final for Brave Lupus.He was amazing for the Crusaders and at last years World Cup.
10 Go to commentsgo the Mighty Blues
1 Go to commentsWhy cant he shut up and do what all his predesessors have done. Select from NZ.
10 Go to commentsTell him he is dreaming maaate
1 Go to comments> That said FRance were clearly the better team on the day, quite clearly. My man Turlough still at it😂😂 Let it go champ!😬
25 Go to commentsSaracens are made to fall within the confines of the salary cap after years of cheating and suddenly they look human rather than all conquering. That shouldn’t be a surprise. Of course, this team is still benefitting from the extensive cheating committed by Saracens year on year. But each season that benefit will dwindle (assuming, of course, they don’t cheat again… I’m not holding my breath). Maybe next year we will see Saracens truly competing on a level playing field with the rest of the league. Maybe.
1 Go to commentsDon’t do it. Stay true to what’s brought success to NZ rugby.
10 Go to commentsRachael Burford has been such a stalwart for England Rugby and one of the best centres of her generation, she is a great ambassador for women’s sport. Shaunagh Brown will continue to inspire others long during her retirement.
1 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns were lucky to beat England, any rugby enthusiast knows this,the English and,French, have the most dangerous forward packs in the world, Canada has been copying their forward rolling maul techniques,and its working for them, the Black Ferns coaching team should of copied Englands big strong forward style, we got the best backs in the world, we know that,but I can't see us getting into the top 3 at the World Cup, i’m a proud as Kiwi, but i’ve been watching the 6 Nations games,and their competition and regularity of hard games puts them ahead of the Black Ferns ,sad to say,but realistic.
11 Go to commentsI have been a Black Ferns fan for over 20 years and it's been tough being a Black Ferns supporter. Not because of the players or the footy that they play but because until very recently, the NZRFU have made it really difficult to BE a BFF. For years it was hard to find out when they would be playing. For years, their games weren’t televised. For years I haven’t been able to get Official supporters kit and even now, just this season it looks like there is FINALLY some decent supporters kit but most of it is only available if you can make a game… its not available online. I've attended games and still couldn’t get Official supporters gear because it was on the opposite side of the stadium and you had to have tickets to seats on that side of the stadium to get access to the supporters gear. General f#ckery like that makes it really frustrating to be a BFF. It's difficult to build that tribalism that other sports teams have when its made so hard to get supportersgear. The marketing people are so focussed on growing the fan base amongst kids that it feels like adult fans and long term fans like me don’t matter. I watch every game either in person or on the tele. I’m invested in the players and the team. I just wish the NZRFU would do better by them and us, the fans.
11 Go to commentsI think the Top 8 is great Brett, as it keeps the fans invested in their team . Your team could be 10th but only a win away from making the finals so you’re involved for 13 of the 14 rounds. The finals is a new competition and as you say who’d want the Crusaders first up
14 Go to commentsWhat does scrum half do when a ruck is ongoing?
2 Go to commentsGood on him. To me he’s always knocking on the door for a black jersey. But what a cool opportunity to spend his last few years playing a cool comp, earning good cash and great experience for a young family. Wonder if we see him in some coaching roles in the future? Up the Landers🤘
3 Go to commentsPut your head back in the sand, Hamish. Hope Nichol delivers on his threat and the PU fish-heads discover exactly what it is they own when the cash subsidy stops trickling down from the top - sweet fa.
10 Go to commentsAm a great fan but was appalled by his absence or slow arrival at some rucks in that last game where he wasnt caught up.
4 Go to commentsGood piece John, particularly appreciated the separation of loose and tighthead lock, and can’t really fault you on your rankings of who the form players are. I think taking your top 2/3 players of each position would be pretty close to the WB squad short of a guy like BPA or wilson coming in off the back of injury etc. I agree R Smith is probably the form lock, but I’d still guess schmidt will give frost first crack. And although probably not the favoured opinion, I still have kellaway at 15 and wright on the wing. Not because of form, but because of balance. I think kellaway’s calm, communication and game management is needed more than wright’s attacking spark, although he does have the combo with noah.
7 Go to commentsBig advantage finishing top of the ladder with the home ground advantage and no travel. Would be great to see a Brumbies v Reds final. :-)
14 Go to comments