The move came as no surprise given the fact the front row forward has spent the last two years struggling to regain former glories only for those efforts to be undermined by a succession of serious injuries.

As his powers waned, his frustration increased and when he did manage to get himself on to the pitch, which he did on just 12 occasions in the last couple of Premiership campaigns, his clashes with officialdom became more and more frequent. Not only was he banned for four weeks after a bust up against Harlequins in October last year, on numerous other occasions he was warned about his conduct by director of rugby Mike Ruddock.

He even spent time working with Warriors’ in-house official Hugh Watkins in a bid to improve his discipline which makes his latest revelation all the more startling.

“I have just signed up to start my refereeing course on July 26 and had already had a chat with Ed Morrison about really getting involved with this,” Horsman confirmed.

“Hopefully all things go well with that I’m looking to go into refereeing full-time if I reach the required standard.

“I know some people may raise their eyebrows about me doing this but I feel I can give something back and be a success at it, it really interests me.

“I have also applied for a few jobs mentoring young children, I still feel I have a massive amount to offer the game in terms of my knowledge of front row play.

“I have spoken to a few people in Wales and hopefully there are a few opportunities I can take there. There are chances to work closely with the RFU in terms of scrummaging coaching.

Horsman’s move comes just a few months after Moseley’s Greg Macdonald quit semi-professional rugby in order to concentrate on his teaching career but also to learn his trade as a whistle-blower.

The former fly half is on a fast-track programme and Horsman’s experience of the game at the highest level would also enable him to progress more quickly up the ladder.

But the Newport Pagnell-born tighthead admitted the decision to end his poaching days in order to turn game-keeper was one of the most difficult.

“It has been a huge mental and emotional decision to come to,” he said.

“It has been really, really difficult, but I reached the point when I went to see a surgeon and he told me if I carried on playing it would hit my long term health. When you have got three children and a wife, and as much as I would love to carry on playing, it’s important for me to still live my life in a relatively active way.

click here for more on this story.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon