Jon retired from professional rugby last week after an injury-ravaged final season with Glasgow Warriors. The former Scotland skipper has recently had shoulder surgery and is not going to commit himself to playing for Dundee.
Ian Rankin, Dundee's head coach who gave JP his first pro contract when he was in charge of Caledonia Reds a decade ago, yesterday expressed his delight that JP's knowledge and experience would be around the clubhouse.
Rankin said: "It is only a couple of years since Jon was captaining his country and he has the utmost respect from all involved in the game He has recently undergone some corrective surgery and will not be involved in playing in the immediate future."
Jonny is enjoying a well-earned rest after a decade of wall-to-wall rugby. He told glasgowwarriors.com: "I am not going to be playing in the foreseeable future for anyone. I've got a new challenge to look forward to with SSE, and it's also going to be nice to enjoy some free time at the weekends. My body is in a state after ten years involvement in pro rugby, and I don't want to risk my long term health by bashing it about even more just now!
"I've got a lot of friends at Dundee, and am looking forward to being about socially a bit more up at the club. I've known Ian Rankin for a long time, and have said to him that I would perhaps take a training session every now and again, but nothing beyond that has been agreed."