Scottish game on right path, says Nikki Walker

WINGER Nikki Walker believes he has returned to a Scottish game in a far better state than the one he left seven years ago, but has warned Edinburgh supporters not to expect silverware at Murrayfield yet.

Nikki Walker. Picture: Neil Hanna

He makes his debut for his new club against Dragons tonight after a summer return north from Worcester, and recovery from a shoulder operation.

Having left the Borders for a star-studded Ospreys in 2006, Walker is confident that the tide is turning with Welsh sides cutting costs and Scottish sides expanding. Edinburgh are building the strength to challenge the leading lights in Celtic rugby, he said, but perhaps not this season.

“Things have definitely moved forward since I left with a lot more young players coming through and more depth in the squads,” said the Scotland international. “But we are in a transition period.”

After a 34-23 away loss at Munster, Walker added: “Last week’s result and performance were disappointing and we will have to scrap for everything right now. We are underdone on rugby as the coaches came in late. We want to get as high up the table as we can but I have won this league before [in 2007 and 2010 with Ospreys] and it is a big ask for us to go out and win it. Over the next couple of months we need to get used to the systems and, by Christmas, we will be winning games.”