De Luca extends Wasps stay before retirement
After hanging up his boots, De Luca will take up a post as Director of Rugby at Uppingham School.
De Luca has impressed since joining Wasps on a short-term contract at the beginning of the 2016/17 season, securing a contract extension until the end of the campaign.
After more than a decade playing at the highest level, including 43 caps for Scotland, the 32-year-old has decided the time will be right to retire and embark on a new career in June.
Wasps’ director of rugby Dai Young said: "We are pleased Nick will be staying with us for the rest of the season. He is a model professional who has done really well each time he has pulled on the Wasps’ shirt. He has a great attitude and adds a lot to the squad through his international experience. Frustratingly for him, he hasn’t been able to make as many appearances as he would’ve liked due to injury, but it’s great to have him back fit now and I’m sure we will see more from him over the remainder of the season, before he starts a new chapter,"
In June, the talented centre, who has a sports science degree from Edinburgh University, will take up a post at Uppingham School, one of the country’s leading boarding schools. He will combine his new role as Director of Rugby with teaching Economics and Business Studies, after he has completed his MBA from Heriot-Watt University.
De Luca said: "I am delighted to have extended my stay at Wasps, which was my main goal when I arrived in pre-season, and I really appreciate Dai Young backing me with this contract extension. It’s a great group of players and coaches here at Wasps, the environment is world class and I am thoroughly enjoying being part of this squad. I look forward to playing my part over the coming months and to seeing what we can achieve this season.
"It has been an incredibly difficult decision to retire from the game at the end of the season, but one that was made easier after I met Uppingham School Headmaster Richard Maloney and he shared with me his vision for the school. To be able to retire from professional sport on your own terms is becoming rarer these days and I would like to thanks Chris Bell, Wasps’ Head of Off Field Player Development, for his assistance in helping me put steps in place for a smooth transition when I do hang up my boots.
"I would also like to thank my wife Alissa, my mum, dad, sister, brother, sister-in-law and brother-in-law for their unwavering support, in what has been an incredible and occasionally emotional journey for us all. As any professional sportsman knows, there are ups and downs in your career and your family often bear the brunt and make the sacrifices. So a big thank you to them for their confidence in me and their support.
"I have been privileged to play rugby at the highest level, to be coached by world class coaches and to work alongside and against some of the best players of my generation, during my career playing for Scotland, Edinburgh, the Borders, Biarritz and Wasps. I thank each of the coaches who helped me develop as a player. It is through these experiences that I believe I can help the next generation of rugby stars at Uppingham achieve their goals, and also instil core values and life skills that will help every level of rugby player excel in their chosen path of life.
"Until then, I will savour the final few months of professional rugby and do my best to help the squad go as far as we can in Europe and in the Premiership this season,"
Former Wasps’ captain, now Head of Off-Field Player Development, Chris Bell, added: "Nick has been a pleasure to work with since his arrival in July. He has transferred the determination and creative thinking from his play on the field into his post rugby career planning. Nick identified coaching, teaching and personal development as an area of interest in our first meeting. Wasps have supported Nick in gaining coaching qualifications and experience and we’re delighted he has secured a great role in a great school as a result of his hard work. I hope Nick enjoys the rest of his time in a Wasps shirt and we will continue to support Nick in any way we can in what I’m sure will be a successful future career,"
