Reid, 30, who made a try-scoring debut for Scotland in 2001 and helped Scotland lift the Rugby World Cup Sevens plate in Dubai last March, has been troubled by a persistent knee injury.
“I’ve had three operations on my right knee since 2002,” he explained. “The last four months I’ve been trying to rehabilitate my knee to continue professional rugby. Unfortunately, it hasn’t recovered sufficiently and I have been advised by specialists to consider retiring. My son, Rufus, is now nine months old and when he’s old enough I want to be able to run around with him.”
In a 12-year career that took Reid from Johannesburg to Glasgow to London to Leeds, back to South Africa and then Edinburgh, he has played both back-row and wing at a high level and expresses great satisfaction at his journey.
“I’ve been very lucky. I turned professional in 1996-97 really at the outset of the professional game. In those days, rugby was not as specific in training or playing as it is now. The advances the game has made, especially in how players are looked after, are terrific. I will never look back on my career with any regrets. Rugby has taken me places I would never have dreamed of going,” he said.
South African born Reid – he qualified for Scotland through his Greenock-born father – was chosen in all three back-row positions during his career and also played on both wings and there were occasions when such versatility could have been considered a hindrance to his international aspirations.
Reid disagrees. “Rugby is the ultimate team sport and I’ve always been of the mind that I would do whatever was best for the team. The camaraderie of the team is something that’s always been important to me. I’m really happy with what I have done and I’m not going to look back and say ‘if only’.”
Citing his try against Tonga within one minute of being introduced from the bench on his Scotland debut in 2001; reaching the quarter-finals in the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong; and his final game for Scotland Sevens against Australia in the Rugby World Cup plate final in Dubai as his career highlights, Reid also pays tribute to the progress made by Edinburgh in finishing last season as runners-up in the Magners League.
“There’s a great sense of community within the Edinburgh team – of guys playing for their city – and I took great pride in being part of that team.
“This season will be a big one for Edinburgh and I’ll be looking to get along to watch as often as I can,” he added.
Reid, who already has his UKCC Level 1 coaching certificate, is now considering his options including the possibility of coaching and player development as a future career.
Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat wished Reid well. “When he arrived in Scotland he was a formidable athlete with real size, power and pace. I enjoyed working with Roland. It was just a pity that injury curtailed the contributions he could make at Edinburgh over the last few years.”
ROLAND REID Flanker/wing
Born: 13.9.78 in Middelburg, South Africa
Height: 6ft 4in (1.93m)
Weight: 17st (108kg).
International record: 2 caps. 2001 – v Tonga (replacement), v Argentina. Points: 5 – 1 try. Scotland A (13 appearances); Scotland Sevens (8 tournament caps including two Rugby World Cups).
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