When Burgersdorp boertjie got the call to play for England
May 22, 2010 9:44 PM | By Jean Smyth
Most rugby players remember where they were when they get their first call-up to the national side, and Burgersdorp-born Hendre Fourie is no exception. It wasn't Bok coach Peter de Villiers on the line but England boss Martin Johnson.
"I saw the number but didn't pick up the phone because I was watching Clash of the Titans and out of courtesy to other film-goers, I couldn't take the call. So, he just left me a message saying congratulations on a very good year and that I was in the squad to tour Australia and New Zealand."
Fourie, 30, flank, is the latest foreign-born player after Dylan Hartley, Riki Flutey and Shontayne Hape - all born in New Zealand - to earn an England call-up.
It comes off a stellar season for Leeds Carnegie in England's Premiership, where he was named his club's player of the season, earning rave reviews under the tutelage of legendary former England open-side flank Neil Back.
"I went to Burgersdorp High school, quite a small school of about 250 pupils. After that, I went to Stellenbosch for two years where I studied computer science with engineering subjects. But there was one subject I just couldn't manage so I went on to study further in Bloemfontein," he said.
"I played for Maties under-20B in my first year and in the second year I played for the third and fourth teams, and was once on the bench for the second team. When I went to Bloem, I played for my koshuis team, while I also helped out at my local club in Burgersdorp. Through that I managed to play for the Cheetahs rural side.
"I then got noticed by Johan du Plessis, coach of Police club Bobbies in Bloem, and was eventually picked for Shimlas. I got some Vodacom Cup action for the Cheetahs, about 10 games or so, and then I moved to English club Rotherham."
He didn't think going to Rotherham would take his career as far as selection for the English touring squad, but is thankful Andre Bester, then the Rotherham coach, encouraged him to move.
"It was an easy move to make. I had just finished studying at the end of 2004 and I didn't play that year as I had a shoulder operation. In 2005, I didn't get offered a Cheetahs contract and I thought I would go overseas for a year - and ended up staying for five."
Following in the footsteps of Mike Catt and Matt Stevens, what's it going to be like when Fourie runs out in an England jersey?
"When I played for the Saxons (England's B side), I realised this was one of the best things that was going to happen in my life," he said after a training session at Twickenham.
"I've done so well over here that I'll run out with massive pride. I'm going to do all I can to help England win Test matches. I'm going to play as if I'm playing for my life."
His enthusiasm is echoed all the way back to Burgersdorp.
"All of the family are massively proud about me playing at the highest level," he said. "I've got plenty of smses and online messages wishing me well.
"My old school in Burgersdorp is so ecstatic that they announced over the intercom system that I had been selected for the tour squad - so it's just been chaos."
