Simon Danielli announces his retirement – Rugby News Update
The 32-year-old Scottish winger playing for Ulster, Simon Danielli, has called time on his career. He has been forced to retire at a young age due to a persistent back problem, as confirmed by his club Ulster.
This is a big blow for the 32 time capped Scottish international, and in his farewell note he was happy that he had played rugby for such a long time.
"I feel privileged to have been playing for over a decade and have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a professional rugby player, particularly my last five years here at Ulster," Danielli said.
Danielli was trying hard to get fit but the doctors had advised him that he would never be able to achieve the fitness levels that one requires to play professional rugby.
The winger played for England at the school and Under-21 level before shifting loyalties to the Scottish, making his debut against Italy in a warm-up game before the 2003 Rugby World Cup at Murrayfield, on August 23, 2003. He had a successful World Cup as
a player, scoring two tries against USA and playing an integral part for Scotland at the tournament.
He thanked all the coaches he has played under, especially Ulster, where he moved in 2007. Danielli had played in the Premiership as well, playing a solitary game for Bristol but in a three-year period with Bath, he represented the club 41 times.
"I would like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my time here, to all the players, coaches, other members of staff and not least the fantastic supporters at Ulster that rival anywhere else in Europe, creating an atmosphere that has given me many
special lifelong memories.”
His Scotland career never took off the way he wanted it, fighting it hard with his colleagues to get a place in the start XV. His last international match came against England at Auckland on October 11, 2011, at the Rugby World Cup.
He wished Ulster the very best for the future and he feels that his club has all the ingredients to become a European force in the years to come.
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