Former Sale Sharks and England flanker Hendre Fourie is aiming to work his way up the coaching ladder – even if it means wearing the Manchester club’s mascot costume to begin with.
The eight-time capped international was forced to retire from rugby in early 2013 because of a shoulder injury and was faced with the threat of deportation when his contract was cancelled.
Fourie, though, was not forced to leave the country and is enjoying his new job as a community coach for Sale.
“Well, it is a bit different coaching young kids compared to adults who have been taught for quite a number of years but it is good fun you know,” he told MM.
“The odd day you get kids who are a bit rowdy and stuff but the majority of the time they are good and listen to what you want to say. The satisfaction when you get them to do stuff you want them to do and you see them develop playing a bit of tag with the coaching is really rewarding.”
With the Sharks performing well in the Premiership life is a bit easier for the community coaches, as Fourie recognises the impact from the first team filters down to the children they are teaching.
The 34-year-old admits that he was not thinking of retirement before it was forced upon him and, in fact, was thinking of playing on for a couple more years but now he wants to build his coaching experience from the ground up.
“The thing is for myself I am not that comfortable yet teaching the professional side,” he explained.
“I want to work myself up from the grassroots shall we say.
“ I know I could give a specialist back row session to professional guys but not full on, DOR or Head Coach, I want to progress from lower levels towards schools or something like that.”
Although Fourie has decided to get back involved with rugby he admitted that it is still tough for him to watch matches.
“I did watch a couple of games but it is still a bit raw you know,” he continued.
“It just feels like I could still have been there and maybe had a chance to still play if I was fit.”
It is not like that he could get away from it all either with his passport in the Home Office, Fourie had to rely upon his mental strength, built up over his years in rugby, to see him through.
But for now the South African-born man is happy to get stuck into coaching youngsters even if he does have to don the ‘Sharky’ mascot costume from time to time.
“Sometimes one of use has to get into the Sharky costume so we can get the pictures done,” he laughed.
“It is not that bad, you are a bit visually impaired so you cannot see what is going on that is the main thing, you have the big head and a 30 degree view.
“Luckily I am quite tall and the kids cannot reach but they do smash the head though, and the nose or try to get their fingers in through the teeth.”
Image courtesy of Broadcast Exchange via YouTube, with thanks.
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