Warr stepping into Faf’s shoes
THE pressure of replacing one of the world’s best rugby players could see many crack, but not Gus Warr, whose rise to stardom has been far from orthodox.
After Sale Sharks lost South Africa’s scrum-half Faf de Klerk in June of last year, the burden on his potential replacement only grew from outside critics.
The 23-year-old was handed the chance to make the No.9 spot at the Sharks his own, and with all eyes on his young number, nothing seemed to faze him.
“Faf was the best player in the world, he’s just left, everybody sees it as a big hole, but for me it wasn’t,” Warr said with a smile.
“It’s now my opportunity, people aren’t putting more pressure on me, I’m just getting a chance.
“I probably didn’t have a full run at it before. I’m now getting a chance to prove to people what I can do, prove to them how good I am as a player and how good I can make this team.
“It wasn’t necessarily pressure from anywhere else or anything it was more me just almost proving the doubters wrong and proving to myself how good I am. I always backed myself, I always believed I could play consistently well at the highest level.”
Warr broke onto the Premiership rugby scene with Sale at just 18 years old, but after limited game time, was sent out on loans to the likes of Fylde as well as the Doncaster Knights.
Since returning to the club, Warr has had a battle on his hands to secure the starting scrum-half spot, with England international Raffi Quirke also vying to replace De Klerk, right.
However, with Quirke suffer80 ing lengthy injury lay-offs in the last year, Warr has tightened his grip on the No.9 spot this term and has played in 19 matches since September.
Although physically gifted, Warr puts his recent successes down to the psychological part of his game.
Warr added: “I’d argue mental strength is one of my strongest traits, coming through the entire Sale system, I was an underdog all the way through.
“AlI the way up to the under 18’s I was second choice. When I first broke in to the first team I played a bit, but then I went back and ended up playing in National League Two for Fylde, which was humbling.
“Then last year I probably didn’t play anywhere near as much as I wanted to, I was understudy to Faf and Raffi on multiple occasions, sitting on the bench for
minutes and not getting a look in. So mentally I’m quite strong, and I think that’s a massive part, you’ve got to be able to deal with the rebounds.
“It’s not a straight line up, there’s always loads of arcs, lots of highs, lots of dips, and you’ve just got to understand it’s your own journey.”
The in-form scrumhalf has been vital for the Sharks this campaign, with his kicking game improving alongside his match management over the last year. A major factor in Warr’s development has been Sale’s kicking coach, Warren Spragg, who previously worked in the Greater Manchester side’s academy.
Spragg has played a key part in the career of the Manchester-born player and believes he has used pressure to seize his opportunity in the sport.
The Sharks coach said: “He’s had to work hard for every opportunity and that resilience, and determination, is something you have to respect. Pressure is a privilege. There has been a number of young players who have broken through and are now playing well for the first team. You can call it pressure if you want, but it’s healthy.
“Gus has taken his opportunity well without trying to do too much to impress. Coaches and players like him, and he’s developed into a key member of the team because of his character and attitude which is the best feedback you can get as a player.”
Whilst Warr is having the season of his life, the sport of rugby is suffering, and many players are succumbing to the different types of pressure the sport can bring.
At the backend of 2022, both Worcester Warriors and the Wasps went into administration and were subsequently expelled from this season’s Premiership. Some of rugby’s elite were then forced to either find a new club or find a new way to earn a living, not a situation a professional athlete would expect. Warr saw his friends’ career fall into uncertainty, and he shone a light on what it’s like to see professionals struggle.
“It’s pretty frightening what can happen if you don’t have strong donors in place, who are protecting the best interests of the club,” explained Warr. “You hear about your mates who you played age grade with going from being professional rugby players to suddenly searching for a job, trying to figure out what they’re going to do with their life.
“You’re thankful it’s not you, but then also gutted for your mates and all the history in prestige that came with those clubs before.”
Elite sport can cause athletes to crumble, but Warr has risen to the challenge against adversity, and shown that pressure truly can make diamonds.