Since arriving from South Africa in 2012, WP Nel has not only established himself in a dominant Edinburgh front-row alongside Ross Ford and Ally Dickinson, but he has also broken onto the international scene. Playing superbly for Scotland in last year’s Rugby World Cup and 2016 Six Nations; more performances like that could see him in the frame for a British and Irish Lions place next June.

I caught up with WP during his visit to Biggar Rugby Club as part of the Royal Bank RugbyForce campaign, an initiative he is happy to support. He tells me that it’s good for pro-rugby players to make themselves accessible to youngsters playing the game.

“I’ve been helping out here, spending time doing some coaching. It’s good to show we are just normal people and we are here to help develop the younger kids”.

WP on ‘the move’ from South Africa

As a youngster himself, having grown up and played rugby barefoot in South Africa, WP pulled on the jerseys of Western Province, Boland Kavaliers and the Free State Cheetahs before his move to Scotland four years ago.

“I realised that if I wanted to go further with my rugby I needed to do something different, and the opportunity came up in Scotland, so I took it.”

The move has been a good one for his career, and for WP’s young family. He tells me that they have settled in really well, although admits that they have yet to get used to the cold winters.

WP on Edinburgh Rugby

Edinburgh finished 9th in the Pro12 last season, but WP believes there is reason for lots of optimism.

“If we look at the league it’s always disappointing, but if we look at the long-term and where we came from 3 years ago, we can see there’s been a lot of improvement”.

He cites the number of points Edinburgh have accumulated year on year, and there’s certainly an upward trajectory, moving from 38 to 48 to 54. But can the capital side chase a more respectable top six finish this season? WP thinks it’s more than possible.

“We have big expectations this year. Our main goal is to go out there and win the league.”

That would seem a long shot, but then we only need look at what Connacht achieved last season.

“The Pro12 teams are so good at this moment, every team can be in front, so there’s not really any favourites. It’s going to be a tough one this year. It’s one of the most open leagues.”

WP on the Step Up to International Rugby

Having a full season of international rugby behind him, the prop forward is in no doubt as to the biggest difference from the domestic game.

“It is how people and teams analyse you; I think that’s the biggest difference”.

He explains to me that the international game is incredibly tough, but getting the body physically ready for it is often the easiest part; it’s the constant analysis which is a step up.

WP has been building quite a reputation as being one of the most effective scrummagers in the game and he has brought a solidity to the Scottish front-row with his two Edinburgh team-mates.

“There’s a lot of technique in the scrum, but as a unit we worked really hard from before the World Cup, so as a pack we have built a reputation, but the next step is to keep that reputation.”

He also boasts quite an incredible try scoring record for a prop forward, one that some Edinburgh backs may be slightly envious of; 15 tries in 97 games for his club, and 2 tries for his country from 15 caps. “Honestly”, he says with more than a hint of a wry smile, “I’ve no explanation for how I do this or where this comes from, but the white line fever…it’s always there!”

But he clearly does understand that a modern day prop forward needs to bring more to the game than just locking up the scrum.

“It’s nice to get the ball in hand. Rugby is evolving, I think the skills must be up there with the backs; you must play ball, you must do a lot of stuff that older props didn’t. So the skills must be good from props through to full-backs.”

WP On Scotland

Following the summer tour victories in Japan, we turn our attention to Scotland’s prospects for the three autumn internationals against Australia, Argentina and Georgia, and then the Six Nations. WP tells me that, following last year’s results, expectations are very high.

“Vern [Cotter] touched on it after the Japan tour, we definitely want to win all 3 tour games, and then we’ll take the Six Nations as it comes”, then with a healthy dose of optimism he adds “but I think it’s on the board to go out there and win the Six Nations”.

Despite all the challenges Scottish rugby faces, WP’s confidence is genuine. He feels the team has grown and has become much more settled over the last year. He believes that it’s now down to the players to deliver the coach’s game-plan on the pitch when it matters most.

WP on the Lions

And what of a possible Lions place in New Zealand next June? Well, WP remains a suitably modest and grounded man.

“That’s not really on my mind at the moment. If I want to be in that selected group then I have to have an amazing season, so all that is on my mind is to play my game and have a good season of rugby and if it happens it happens. Obviously it would be very nice”.

WP ‘on the Spot’

Career Highlight: “playing in the quarter final of RWC 2015 against Australia”.

Most difficult opponent to scrum against: “Tendai Mtawarira ‘the Beast’, we’ve had a good couple of contests”.

As a rugby player, how would you like to be remembered: “just as a humble player that wanted to perform for his team”.

What do you love most about Scotland: “the freedom of life, particularly for the kids, it’s such a good life for them here”.

What do you like least about Scotland: “that’s easy, it’s the weather!”

By Keith Mackenzie

Follow Keith on Twitter: @Keith_Mack7

As a part of the Royal Bank RugbyForce 2016 initiative, Scottish Rugby players WP Nel and Jamie Ritchie appeared at Biggar RFC. For more information on Royal Bank RugbyForce please visit http://www.scottishrugby.org/rugbyforce