My Life in Rugby: Errie Claassens – former Rotherham and Worcester wuing
I’m a year older than him and used to be a bit of a bully – but by the time he got to 14 he was stronger than me and I’d have to put my side-step to good use! Whereas my idol growing up, Christian Cullen, could step off both feet, I liked to just concentrate on my left!
After playing Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup for the Cheetahs and the Griquas, I moved to England to join Rother-ham aged 22. Andre Bester was the coach and he recruited me and four other students – Jannie Bornman, Hendre Fourie, Barry Jacobsz and WP Strauss – from the Orange Free State University.
Jannie had already spent a few months there the previous season and told us Rotherham was like the Las Vegas of England, “Roth-Vegas,” because he wanted to make sure we came. So, it was a bit of a shock to see what the place was really like! But I had four great seasons there.
We had a proper team spirit and that showed in the results. We finished fourth in the first season and second in the next. We always managed to find a way to bring the best out of each other, and beating Exeter and Leeds the year they got promoted to the Premiership are definitely amongst my career highlights.
Andre wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea but at least you knew where you stood with him. As a winger or full-back, he’d tell you to keep on running into the changing room if you ran into touch because he’d put someone else on instead. That was a real pet hate of his.
I then spent two enjoyable seasons at London Welsh. Again, we finished high up the league table and playing under Mike Friday was an enjoyable experience. Not only is he is a good coach, he has great management skills too.
Then came my big Premiership break. It was a real honour when Richard Hill signed me for Worcester. It felt like all the hard work I’d put in to get to that point had finally paid off. Winning on my debut, against Sale at Sixways, made it all the sweeter.
While my first league game for Worcester was a very positive experience, my last appearance for them was anything but. We were leading Gloucester by a point with time nearly up when Jonny May stepped inside me and I instinctively stuck out a leg. After consulting with the TMO, referee David Rose sent me off and awarded a penalty try, which won Gloucester the game.
A bad knee injury, which got infected and needed three operations, meant I never played for Worcester again.
I’d already signed for Bristol at that point and thankfully they honoured their obligation. It is not the best feeling when you get a contract from a club and you can’t perform. I was always in the physio room and it dragged on and on and, I’m sad to say, I never got to make my senior debut.
Mike Friday asked me over to London Scottish and said he’d help sort out my knee. I didn’t really want to let go of rugby so I decided to give it another crack but it didn’t work out. I played in three warm-up games and a couple of league games but I was always in pain and you can’t carry on like that.
I’m now working in the City as an accounts manager for Corporate Solutions.
*As told to Jon Newcombe
