Don’t boot Fourie out, urges rugby fraternity in England

FORMER England captains Lewis Moody and Mike Tindall are leading a social media campaign to stop flanker Hendre Fourie being deported.

The case of South African-born Fourie, pictured, whose visa is no longer valid following his retirement through injury, has attracted huge interest.

“Craziness, plays for his country can’t stay in country,” Moody tweeted under a hashtag “Fourie to stay” and “Save Shrek” the nickname of a player who won eight England caps in 2010-11. Tindall joined in by tweeting: “This is a joke. I don’t get this country sometimes.”

The messages were backed up by a host of players from England, including Mark Cueto, Danny Cipriani, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Ugo Monye, Charlie Hodgson, Ben Morgan and Iain Balshaw.

The messages went round the world, prompting overseas players to take up the campaign. Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper enquired: “Who’s in charge… nonsense.”

Fourie, 33, whose 18-month-old son Hendro was born in England, has been in the country for eight years, playing for Rotherham, Leeds and Sale.

But he was forced to retire last week because of a shoulder injury he sustained last season.

This led to his contract being cancelled by Sale, which in turn rendered his working visa as a professional sportsman invalid.

Had he played for another two years, he would have qualified for permanent residency, though he was able to play for England because he met the IRB’s three-year rule.

Fourie has described the situation as a red-tape nightmare but has decided not to appeal because of the hassle.

“I am not angry,” he said. We have a lot of family in South Africa, which will be good for my son, but it is just frustrating the way things have worked out.” – Daily Mail