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Back to business for new dad Hodgson

Jenny Dixon
9/ 4/2008

A WEEK after becoming a dad for the first time, Charlie Hodgson is preparing to take to the road with Sale Sharks.

Last week Hodgson’s wife Daisy gave birth to baby Henry, and after a bit of time out on the bench last Friday, it is back to work for the Sharks flyhalf.

Sharks will take on Bristol away on Friday night and will not return home until after their match at London Wasps on Tuesday.

Hodgson said: "It’s going to be tough being away from my family but I’m just thankful she [Daisy] wasn’t late. Fortunately the baby arrived on time, I’m thankful for that and I think Philippe is a bit happy about it as well!

"It’s my job to play for Sale, obviously family is important, but at the same time when games come up I have to focus my energies on those as well."

Sharks have experienced a baby boom, with Hodgson’s son Henry the most recent of 11 babies born over the last year to Sale players and coaches.

But in rugby paternity leave is a rarely an option.

Sharks head coach Kingsley Jones said: "Last week we allowed him a bit of time with the baby, but it is back to normal now.

"I think if allowed everybody months off on paternity leave we wouldn’t have a team or any staff!

"Of course we are sensitive to the fact he’s got a new baby but so many people have had babies, and Charlie is such a crucial player for us."

At just one-week-old it is not yet clear whether Henry has inherited his dad’s reliable boot, but even if he has there will be no pushy parenting, insists Hodgson.

"Noone else in my family played rugby," he explained.

"I think whether he wants to play rugby or if he wants to do something completely different so be it.

"I’m not going to be a forceful dad. I’m not going to be pushing him and telling him what he should be doing or shouldn’t be doing.

"Although, maybe he should play golf or tennis - there’s more money in those sports I think!"

Back in the present, Hodgson knows that winning the next three games will be no simple task for Sharks, who are eager to be in the top four for the end of season play-offs.

"It’s going to be a tough ten days, Bristol are a very physical team and to go and play Wasps four days later is a big ask.

"But we’ve got a big squad, and we are going to be staying down that way after the Bristol game.

"Just to be away and to be together as a squad will be good for team spirit and to get us all focused on winning the games."

Also on Hodgson’s wish list is a dry pitch on which Sharks can play open rugby.

He explained: "I think all the pitches in the league are better than Edgeley Park, the state it is at the moment is pretty horrendous.

"If we can get the chance to run with the ball a bit more, if it is dry, then hopefully we can cause a few problems."