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'First week back on the farm complete': Ex-Scotland midfielder Alex Dunbar has confirmed his retirement
By Liam Heagney
Former Scotland midfielder Alex Dunbar has confirmed his retirement from playing, the 31-year-old taking to Instagram to explain it is all over 30 months after he was last capped for his country against Argentina at Murrayfield.
Having spent most of his club career at Glasgow Warriors where he was a 2015 PRO12 title winner, 31-cap Scotland centre Dunbar moved to Brive in France in 2019 having had a short loan stint south of the border at Newcastle after falling out of favour under Dave Rennie. “The non-selection thing was the hardest to take because when I did play, I didn’t think I played badly,” Dunbar told RugbyPass at the time.
It emerged in May last year that he was being released by Brive after just a single season and after waiting out the lockdown with an ankle injury, he has announced he is now finished with the game as a player and is working on the family farm near Lockerbie.
Writing on social media he said: "First week back on the farm complete. Feel extremely grateful to have had such an amazing journey with my rugby career. As a teenager growing up on the farm and playing rugby for fun I'd never have imagined what it would lead to.
"I've been honoured to represent my country, play with and learn from legends of the game, travel to places I'd never of had the opportunity to before and most importantly make friendships that will last a lifetime.
"Unfortunately my career has had to come to an end sooner than hoped due to injury but I'm happy and ready to move onto the next chapter of life with my family. Time to hang up the boots and pull on the wellies!"
The Scottish Rugby Union have been among the well-wishers who have reacted to Dunbar's news, tweeting: "Congratulations on a fantastic career and all the very best for the future, Alex Dunbar. Enjoy your retirement."
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That is a matter of players style of play. Will Jordan's strength is his running . He has been absolutely deadly for the the Crusaders in that position. Especially in years 2021-23. Foster subsequently then Razor put him on the wing. Scored heaps of tries, but as he showed in one test against Australia this year , he scored a try running from the back, that was amazing. That was after Robertson finally put him at 15 because Beauden was injured. Thankfully there Will remained. Speaking of Beauden and kicking. He kicks too much, waywardly as well. Handing the ball back to the opposition. He is an impact player at best.
Go to commentsYet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
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