Scotland star ‘P&P Nel’ in sponsor name switch

• 1 April 2021
• News

Scotland international prop W.P Nel today (Thursday 1 April) becomes only the second rugby player in sports history to legally align his name to a sponsor.

The tight-head prop – capped 43 times at international level – will now be known as P&P Nel in a newly launched player sponsorship initiative with Main Club Sponsor, Principal & Prosper.

The prop – formerly known as W.P – will now legally carry Principal & Prosper as his forename and will be referred to as P&P Nel in all communications by Edinburgh Rugby.

Nel follows in the footsteps of Tongan international Epi Taione who famously changed his name to that of a renowned Irish bookmaker for the duration 2007 Rugby World Cup.

On his new sponsor-backed name, Nel, said: “I’m truly honoured to carry Principal & Prosper as my new forename.

"As our Main Club Sponsor, P&P have backed us since day one, so it’s only right that I change my name as a way of showing my appreciation.

“I’m sure it will take a while for my teammates to get used to it, but P&P Nel definitely has a ring to it.”