Ali Price extends Edinburgh stay but hints at future move abroad
Scotland scrum-half Ali Price is not ruling out a move abroad in future but says signing a one-year extension to his contract with Edinburgh is the “right decision” for now.
Price, 30, made a surprise loan move in November from Scottish rivals Glasgow – where he spent the previous nine years – in a bid for more game-time and to stay in Scotland contention, with George Horne the preferred starting nine at Warriors.
Price was a reported target for French club Perpignan as he weighed up his options but having become a father for the first time last month, has opted to put family considerations first and continue commuting from his Glasgow home rather than uproot his young family.
“There will still be time, and at the right time and at the right stage for me and my family, if I feel it’s the right thing to do then a new challenge or looking somewhere else would probably be an option,” he said. “But for me now, I’m pretty happy.
“I looked at what I think is right for me at this stage and potentially where I could have gone, was I going to get the best out of myself? I just felt the right thing for myself and partner and daughter was to stay here where I’m enjoying it. For the sake of me taking an extra hour out of my day to come through and drive back, it wasn’t really a conversation to be had.
“But look, in a year’s time, if we’re stood here and another decision has been made and I’m going somewhere else, we’ll be a year further down the line. That might be the right thing for me at that time.
“You get to a stage where you see where you are internationally – all these factors will play into the decisions I make. While I still feel I can compete and give my all in a place where I am happy and settled, I think this was the right one.”
Price was Gregor Townsend’s first-choice scrum-half for Scotland from 2020 until the emergence of Ben White last year and played in all three Tests for the British and Irish Lions in 2021 in South Africa.
He was preferred to White for Scotland’s decisive final World Cup pool game against Ireland last October, only to be relegated to third choice during the Six Nations behind White and Horne.
Price did win a 67th cap off the bench against Italy but insisted trying to regain his previous status in the Scotland pecking order was not a decisive factor in opting to stay at Edinburgh.
“That’s not a given, I think the last six months would tell you that,” he said. “I just know that if I’m playing well and enjoying my rugby, that will give me the best chance to be in the mix. I believe, especially if I was to go anywhere in Europe, that would still be the case. It wasn’t really a factor in why I stayed.
“I’ve really enjoyed this environment, to be honest, so when I got approached about staying it made it a bit more straightforward for me. I obviously knew about my home situation, and not wanting that disrupted too much.
“And I think at this stage I wasn’t probably ready to just go anywhere. There are always going to be other clubs that need players, but for me at this stage of my career I still want to challenge myself and be in a professional, strong environment and I feel that that’s here.”
Price missed Edinburgh’s two recent URC games in South Africa to be with partner Annie for the birth of their daughter Luna, but has featured in 12 of their 15 games since joining the club, sharing starting duties with co-captain Ben Vellacott.
“He’s played well,” said Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt, who described Price as a “seasoned campaigner and a world-class scrum-half” as he welcomed the player’s decision to stay on.
“It’s not only what he brings on the field, it’s also what he brings from a leadership point of view. He’s an integral part of our strategy group and his input there is invaluable.
“He’s the link between the forwards and backs and with the experience he’s had with Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, we can only be delighted to have him for another year. Not only that, he’s a good person, he’s very coachable and he brings energy to the team.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The next Willie le Roux. SA are made not to use him.
1 Go to commentsDan has always been as controversial as tea with milk so we were never going to get any definitive answer. So DMac for the win.
8 Go to commentsGoodness. When are the All Blacks and New Zealand commentators going to stop complaining about how they could have won and just try to win next time 😂. In South Africa if you lose you get up and try again. Get over it.
76 Go to commentsHonestly, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. RSA has a ton of experienced talent in its leadership group. I am more interested in who is the new 8 man/8 men and the younger props. The captain may change but the system does not
1 Go to comments“See you in the final” can mean whatever you want it to mean. To me it means that 12 Irish rugby players are a bunch of poeses. See y’all in Pretoria.
128 Go to commentsBen, you are one of the most arrogant and self opionated rugby critics I have ever come across (next to Keohane). I hoped that after SA beating the best ranked teams in the world on their way to the WC (something not done before) that you might have the grace to admit that this is a special team that deserved the accolades coming their way. You have no humility and as has been been already pointed out, merely a troll to attract audience numbers. Count me out in the future.
76 Go to comments‘War of independence’. Such a grand name for a few skirmishes. Where were all the great battles of this ‘war’ ? Smith got goosebumps as he was being emotionally manipulated, another mushroom.
1 Go to commentsFor all those disputing the veracity of Etzebeth’s very public recollections of the Irish players’ comments, I have one question: should we be holding our collective breath in anticipation of a barrage of strenuous denials from the Irish squad? Then again, perhaps not…
128 Go to comments> If the game of rugby is to grow globally, then the rugby Sth Africa play needs to be exterminated. Their performances at World Cup ‘19 & ‘23 were the antithesis to what the game should be. If the World Cup final is the grand spectacle of the game, please no more having to endure the drudgery and insipid ‘style ‘ of play harking back to pre WWII days, where the soulless rugby of the Bok reflected the mindset of a nation. > Gotta agree with Ben Smith, “ the Springboks took the trophy by default, with what might be the most unimpressive escape of all time “.
76 Go to commentsI think Rassie should bring in some new guys and give them a go in these irrelevant games. It’s a chance to blood some guys that might otherwise not get a chance and see if they’re up to it. As for the who’s number 1 dispute? Don’t care. As long as the trophies are brought home, that argument isn’t important. Champions don’t fuss about the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. They just do, and that for me makes SA and NZ the top dogs. Followed by Ireland and occasionally England.
225 Go to commentsThis is like the “catches win matches" saying in cricket. If ABs were pragmatic and kicked for goal instead of hunting tries, I reckon they win that game with ease. Instead, nearly 6 months later; we have World Rugby's official mouthpiece celebrating their Almost Won the Rugby World Cup trophy. Fine Victory Gentleman! Well-earned!!
76 Go to comments“…the All Blacks nearly won…” is the only phrase you need to concern yourself with relative to this “journalistic” piece. Enjoy your Almost Won the World Cup victory…
76 Go to commentsAw common. Stop winging. There were no errors by officials. It is all recorded. Whose fault was the Cane red card? Or the Savea knock? Maybe the selectors who insisted on making a very average player their captain should be blamed. Something had to give way.
76 Go to commentsThe latest ‘Ireland are arrogant’ attack from one of the two most arrogant rugby nations on earth.
128 Go to commentsWaawaawaaaaaaaa
24 Go to commentsHow does this guy still have a job?
76 Go to commentsSorry bok you can't beat facts, we heard you all crowing how great you thought you were..lol ! We all watched the game, cheatsabeth cheating cost abs a try, only a penalty considering it was cynical and a professional foul, doesn't matter who wrote this because thats how it happened, but you go enjoy your gifting of the cup,
76 Go to commentsCan we talk about the context of how this particular journalist continues to make a living and gets published? Controversy for clicks. Shame on all of us for engaging with these irrelevant opinions.
76 Go to commentsAn astounding article !
76 Go to commentsFrance didn’t lose against New Zeland in 2011, but against Joubert…
76 Go to comments