Sale Sharks flanker Hendre Fourie sidelined until start of next year – Rugby News
Edgeley Park based English Rugby Union club, Sale Sharks, have hit a unexpected speed bump in the 2011/12 season after their talented back row forwards’ player, Hendre Fourie, has been ruled out of the current season’s campaign until the start of the next year. Sale Sharks Executive Director of Rugby, Steve Diamond, has confirmed the unavailability of Fourie because of an injury in a statement released on the clubs website on Monday, September 19.
Diamond acknowledged that Fourie is still to recover from a shoulder injury, which he sustained last month. He added that it has been decided that the Fourie will undergo surgery so that his shoulder can be repaired properly.
Providing the details on Fourie’s injury, Diamond added, “Hendre injured himself playing for England against Ireland before the World Cup. He limped off with a hamstring strain but has since been struggling with a shoulder injury and will require surgery.”
Commenting on the reasons of Fourie’s long-term absence from the side, Diamond added, any surgery will require eight to twelve weeks time for effective rehabilitation. He added that his prime concern is not to aggravate the injury further. He expressed his confidence that Fourie will fully recover and will be the part of the squad at the start of the next year.
The South African born Fourie made his English professional Rugby Union club debut for Rotherham Titans in 2005. He made 52 appearances for Titans and scored 75 points for them. At the end of the 2006/07 season, he left Titans to join Leeds Carnegie.
Fourie made his debut for the Leeds Carnegie during the 2007/08 season. During his four-season stay at the club, he made 71 appearances for Carnegie in different domestic and European competition. He scored 95 points for Carnegie and played an important role in the Carnegie’s campaign for a place in the Aviva Premiership competition.
After the relegation of the Leeds Carnegie at the end of the 2010/11 Aviva Premiership competition, Fourie joined Sale Sharks, where he is still to make his debut for the club.
The 31-year-old Fourie has established himself as quality flanker in the English circuit. He has already represented England with the Saxons and in England senior level squad. He made his international debut for the England in 2010 against the All Blacks.
In other news, Steve Diamond has announced that former All Blacks international centre, Sam Tuitupou, will join the club during the week. Providing the details, Diamond said, “It's taken a couple of weeks longer than we had hoped but now that Sam (pictured) has all the necessary paperwork.”
Diamond has also announced that Tuitupou will lead the Sale Sharks in their 2011/12 season’s domestic and European encounters.
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