The mighty Corné Fourie back in the Pumas’ front row
Powerhouse prop forward (and sometimes hooker) Corné Fourie played 72 rugby matches for the NNC Pumas from 2012 to 2015. Tomorrow night he returns to the team in the Carling Currie Cup match at Mbombela Stadium.
Since he left Mbombela he has played 131 first-class games for four teams, The Lions/ Golden Lions, Panasonic Wild Knights (Japan), Stormers/Western Province and Gloucester.
The 32-year-old front ranker has plenty of rugby left in him.
“I feel amazing; it feels like I can just keep going. Covid has given the body the rest it needed. If you are blessed with not having major injuries in a long career, you become smarter with time about how to manage your body with age.
“When you are younger you live like there is no tomorrow, but once you have had a few games under the belt and reach 30, you do not recover as fast as a 22-year-old. You start becoming more professional by doing the extras when no one is looking, eating better, drinking better, sleeping better. All the small things that at the end of the day have a massive influence,” Fourie told Lowvelder on Monday.
He was released by Gloucester on April 9 and the Pumas pounced on the opportunity to re-sign him.
“When Coach Jimmy (Stonehouse) phoned me and asked if I was willing to come back it was a no-brainer.”
Stonehouse has played an integral part in Fourie's rugby career.
“Coach Jimmy is an amazing person and someone who I have a lot of respect for. I have known him since I was 14 and the influence he has had on my life is immeasurable. I will never be able to thank him enough as he was the one who has always had faith in me.
“I have always said that if I ever had the privilege of being able to write a book about my life, Coach Jimmy would have his own chapter. There are two people who played a massive role in my rugby career and he is one of them. The other is his Hoërskool Waterkloof coach, André Eloff. And the fantastic thing is that when a player leaves the Pumas, Coach Jimmy will always remain a special coach. I can see that all the players still keep in touch with him and give the odd chirp or two on his Facebook posts.”
Fourie is thrilled and excited to be wearing the Pumas jersey again.
“This group (Pumas) are unbelievable and have so much potential. On and off the field they are great and have been so welcoming.
“There are so many players just like the team of 2013 who are really amazing rugby players and the sky is the limit for them. And I hope that I can help them reach that potential.
“I believe in the team before personal goals, because if the team does well the individual will shine. And the Pumas of
2013 are a great example if you take what the likes of Faf de Klerk, Uzair Cassiem, Vincent Koch and Renaldo Bothma have achieved in their careers.
“As Coach Jimmy always says, each one of us is holding the future of the guy next to us in our hands; together we can achieve so much. I truly can’t wait to get out there, not just for myself, but for each one who represents the jersey and wants to make the brand better,” he said.
Fourie has played 219 first-class matches in a career spanning 12 years. He also represented South Africa u/20 in 2008 and the South African Barbarians in 2012.
Quick fact 20 The number of tries Corné Fourie has scored in his 12-year, first-class career