DUHAN VAN DER MERWE will raise a glass of his own whisky to celebrate his new Edinburgh deal.
The South African-born winger — who is Scotland’s top try-scorer — has started his own company with team-mate Pierre Schoeman.
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Duhan van der Merwe in action for Scotland against AustraliaCredit: Alamy
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He confirmed a new contract with his club Edinburgh Rugby yesterdayCredit: SNS
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Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman announce new commercial partnership with BevvyCredit: SNS
Its success is one of the reasons he has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract extension, rather than take up one of the lucrative offers on the table from French and English clubs.
His new deal will keep him at Edinburgh until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Van der Merwe, set to face Bayonne in the Challenge Cup tomorrow, admits his aim is to win some silverware by then.
He said: “I first joined Edinburgh in 2017 and I haven’t won anything, which is a tough one to take because I believe this Edinburgh squad can win stuff.
“I guess people on the outside have stopped believing in us, so it’s up to this group and this group alone to change that.
“It’s a really important month for the club as we have got Bayonne in the European Challenge Cup on Friday, then Glasgow back to back in the league.”
Van der Merwe, who has a record 30 tries for Scotland, said that apart from the rugby side, there were two other reasons he stayed.
He added: “I am not going to say it was an easy decision to stay but as long as I am happy and my wife Nika is happy, then I’ll be at my best and we are here in Edinburgh.
“Also me and Schoey have started our own whisky company and it is going really well and I will have a glass to celebrate my new deal.
“I didn’t drink much whisky to begin with but I love it now. Our whisky is called Hirundine, after a swallow that migrates from Scotland to South Africa.
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“Our bottling company is called Against the Grain. Both of us being born in South Africa and coming to Scotland was against the grain, but I am delighted I did.”
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt said: “It is massive for the club and for Scottish rugby that Duhan is staying.
“It wasn’t easy to keep him as he is a sought-after player.”
Teammate and business partner Schoeman hopes to use some contacts and his gift of the gab to lift their venture higher.
Speaking to The Scotsman, he said: “The more it rains in Edinburgh the better it is for us because today’s rain is tomorrow’s whisky!
“It was actually my wife, Charissa, who had the idea of ‘Against the Grain’ – I wanted to use the name for maybe a book after rugby, as a biography or something – but then I spoke to Duhan and asked if he wanted to join this idea.
“He said he loved the proposal. It just suits both our stories: going against the grain to Edinburgh and Scotland and embracing it.
“And we wanted to give something back to our friends, family and fans, to enjoy while we are playing and long after we are playing.
“We might even get footballers, cricketers or movie stars involved because rugby connects people worldwide.
“It’s part of the culture. People in South Africa love whisky through hunting, fishing and the outdoors.
“So do all our friends in Scotland on a cold evening with a glass of whisky around the fire or watching the game. It just made sense for Duhan and I.
“He’s getting even more into the peat whiskies because he’s not really one for strong whiskies – he likes the light stuff.”
“I know Sam Heughan from Outlander. He’s a massive fan of Duhan and I but we are massive fans of him firstly.
“He has his own whisky as well, which is amazing.
“We’ve seen Gerald Butler around camp and at matches so we could push the boat out and get him on board.
“Another good actor and friend of ours is Martyn Ford. He was at three of the Six Nations games and comes to watch Edinburgh too.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“They call him the ‘world’s scariest man’ and he’s been in a few A-list movies but I’m name dropping now!
“Maybe we can get someone famous like Blair Kinghorn in Toulouse to keep all the French fans happy.”
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Scotland and Edinburgh teammate and business partner to Duhan, Pierre SchoemanCredit: Alamy
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Duhan van der Merwe, far left, and Schoeman, far right, with their whiskyCredit: SNS
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The post I’m Scotland’s top try-scorer and just signed a new contract – but I’ve a side hustle that has nothing to do with rugby first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-12-13 15:16:40
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