CINDERFORD'S big summer signing Rory Teague says four years in France has matured him as a person and improved him as a rugby player.

Teague, 26, admits he was 'at the crossroads' when he took the plunge and decided to try his luck in France.

He told The Forester: "It's fair to say I was at a loose end.

"I fell out of love with the game and wanted to get away from Gloucestershire and experience something different. It was hard at times, but I'm glad I stuck with it."

Teague initially played for Limoges before switching to Tarbes and then Pro Division Two outfit SC Grenoble.

He said: "Grenoble had a great rugby set-up and it was a good place to live.

"I always had a problem with both of my shoulders – they kept dislocating – but I've had them fixed. I learnt the language and got stuck into my rugby. I've got my hunger back." As a teenager, Teague (pictured) played first-team rugby at Gloucester. He was a full-time pro with Grenoble – a club with a playing budget most Championship clubs in this country can only dream of.

So why has he returned to play semi-professionally in the Forest?

He said: "It was a last minute decision to come back and it wasn't for any one reason.

"I knew I wanted to come home and play good rugby. I had offers from a few Championship clubs but they didn't tick all the boxes.

"Deacs (Cinderford director of rugby Andy Deacon) sent me an email asking me what I was up to, so it went from there.

"Deacs was always good to me when I was a young guy at Gloucester."

Teague says the level of professionalism he has encountered in his first month at Cinderford has been a pleasant surprise.

"I come away from training going 'wow' he said.

"There's such a good work ethic and I'm really enjoying it. I didn't know what to expect when I rocked up at Hartpury College for the first time.

"But I'm training hard in the daytime with Marvin Thompson (former Cinderford Town footballer) and I want to let my rugby do my talking for me.

"I've got a really good feeling about the season ahead and it can't come quickly enough for me."

Photo: Paul Smith, Dean Forest Studios