'I feel now is the time for me to move on to new challenges outside of rugby'

Harlequins have announced that winger and former Scotland international Tim Visser will retire at the end of the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership season having made 66 appearances for the London club.

Affectionately known by supporters as “The Flying Dutchman”, Visser joined Harlequins in 2015 from Edinburgh and scored 10 tries for the Club in his debut season.

Before his six-year spell in the Scottish capital, Visser played for Newcastle Falcons having been discovered playing sevens in the Netherlands, the country of his birth.

Visser made his international debut for Scotland in 2012 against Fiji where he scored a brace of tries in Lautoka. He also represented his country at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and scored against USA in the pool stages. Since then, Visser’s prolific try-scoring ability ensured he was a regular in both Scotland’s and Harlequins’ starting XVs.

The winger’s Harlequins debut came against Bath in October 2015 in the Premiership, with Visser scoring his first try for the club against Sale a week later. He became a stalwart in the side and played a key role in the team reaching the European Rugby Challenge Cup final that same season.

pic.twitter.com/t7FisCSxfV

— Tim Visser (@timbovisser) May 17, 2019

Visser was the club’s top try scorer in their 150th anniversary season with 11 tries in 20 appearances, including a breakaway try against Saracens at home.

At the conclusion of a prolific individual season in 2018 for Harlequins, where he scored nine tries in all competitions including a dramatic winning try against Saracens at The Stoop and a brace at Big Game 10, Visser announced his retirement from international rugby. Across his 33 Scotland appearances, the winger scored 14 tries.

Speaking on his club retirement, Visser said: “I’d like to thank everyone at Harlequins for the opportunity to be part of such a fantastic club. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

“I feel now is the time for me to move on to new challenges outside of rugby with my young family. I’m looking forward to trying and proving myself in a completely different career.”

? Read now | Tim Visser to Retire from Professional Rugby at the end of the Season https://t.co/e9zt21n2f0

— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) May 17, 2019

Harlequins boss Paul Gustard added: “Tim has enjoyed an exceptional career and has been a fantastic servant over the past three seasons here at Harlequins. I have thoroughly enjoyed his company and have always respected his commitment, attitude and humour since I joined the club last July.

“He is an immensely valued and very popular member of the squad whom we will miss. We all wish him and his family the very best as he embarks on a new adventure.”

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