England International flanker Hendre Fourie rejects Carnegie’s three-year deal – Rugby Union news
Ex-Premiership Leeds Carnegie suffered another blow as their star international flanker, Hendre Fourie, has rejected a three-year deal with them on Friday May 20. Fourie has a year left in expiration of his current contract, but he has requested the Leeds
management to allow him to continue his professional career elsewhere.
Leeds’ Chief Executive, Gary Hetherington, has praised the flanker’s contribution to the club and granted him permission to the leave the squad to pursue his career elsewhere. As per the statement released on the club’s website, Hetherington said, “Hendre
has always been a tremendous servant to the club and I have no doubt that he would honour his contract with the club if he was to remain at Headingly Carnegie.”
Hetherington further admitted that the international flanker has the right to continue his career in the Premiership particularly when the Leeds has been relegated from the Premiership and permitted him to speak with other clubs to negotiate a contract.
Hetherington has expressed his desire for Fourie to remain at the Leeds Carnegie and help the club to return to the Premiership. However, he also made it clear that “any club wanting to sign the South Africa-born flanker will need to pay a fee to Leeds”
which will be decided in due course of time.
Last week, Leeds management has publically criticized the London Irish move in which they contacted South African born Fourie and negotiated certain elements of the contract detail. Irish were looking to replace their France bound flanker, Steffon Armitage.
Irish are the favourites to sign the Fourie provided his conditional release from Leeds has been confirmed on Friday, May 20. Sale Sharks have also shown an interest in the flanker’s signing.
Approaching 32, Fourie made his professional senior rugby debut for Rotherham in 2005. He made 52 appearances for them and scored 72 points before leaving them in 2007. At the beginning of the 2007/08 season, Fourie joined Leeds Carnegie and in the last
three seasons has made 44 appearances and scored 35 points for them. Renowned for his explosive ball carrying and handling skills backed by his strong on field performances has helped him to win a call to England Saxons Squad and later in the England’s national
rugby union team squad.
Fourie made his international debut against New Zealand at Twickenham in November 2010. He has played six games and chances are that England will include him in their 2011 Rugby World Cup Squad. He has already represented England in the Six Nations series.
The departure of Fourie was always on the card and other good players have already left the Carnegie on the eve of their Aviva relegation.
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