W.P Nel signed with Edinburgh on a three-year contract in the summer of 2012 and soon established himself as a firm fan favourite due to his commitment to the jersey.
As a stand-out for Western Province in the 2008 Vodacom Cup, Nel was loaned to Boland Kaveliers to compete in the Currie Cup, where he was spotted, and snapped up, by the Free State Cheetahs.
Nel stayed a Cheetah for four years from his Super Rugby debut against the Waratah’s at the tail end of 2009.
He then starred in the club’s journey to the Currie Cup final in which his highlight was undoubtedly a semi-final overpowering of Natal Sharks’ South Africa internationalist Tendai ‘the Beast’ Mtawarira.
These fledgling performances paved the way for Nel’s selection for the Cheetah’s narrow loss to the British & Irish Lions in 2009 (24-26), where he packed down against his former teammate Ross Ford, before starting as the only non-capped player in the Barbarians’ win over the All Blacks at Twickenham (25-18).
The front-row qualified to play for Scotland through residency in 2015, and made his debut for the national team against Italy in Turin, before playing a pivotal role throughout the subsequent Rugby World Cup campaign.
Nel surpassed the 100 cap mark with Edinburgh against Leinster in September 2016, and committed to the club on a three-year deal ahead of the 2017/18 season. Known for his ferocious scrummaging and abrasive ball carrying, Nel has been a mainstay in Edinburgh's front-row since arriving in the capital.
Nel's impressive form continued into the 2018/19 season where his technique at scrum time and willingness to carry came to the fore in a Man of the Match performance against Montpellier as Edinburgh secured passage to the knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup.
Home Shirt Sponsor: Edinburgh Rugby Fans Group
Date of birth: 30 April 1986
Height: 5'11
Edinburgh Debut: 10 February 2012 (Ospreys)
Place of birth: Loeriesfontein, South Africa
Weight: 114.5kg
International career

Scotland - 38 Caps
Stats
Caps
Total Points
Tries
Other players

Ben Toolis
Lock

Pierre Schoeman
Loosehead

Jamie Hodgson
Lock

Stuart McInally
Hooker

Nick Haining
Blindside Flanker

Mesu Kunavula
Openside Flanker

Andrew Davidson
Lock

Marshall Sykes
Lock

Hamish Watson
Openside Flanker

Andries Ferreira
Lock

Fraser McKenzie
Lock

Rory Darge
Blindside Flanker

Simon Berghan
Tighthead

Lee-Roy Atalifo
Tighthead

Dave Cherry
Hooker

Rory Sutherland
Loosehead

Magnus Bradbury
Number 8

Murray McCallum
Loosehead

Sam Kitchen
Hooker

Lewis Carmichael
Lock

Luke Crosbie
Openside Flanker

Ally Miller
Openside Flanker

Sam Grahamslaw
Loosehead

Viliame Mata
Number 8

Grant Gilchrist
Lock

Jamie Ritchie
Blindside Flanker

Mike Willemse
Hooker
