Rassie Erasmus confirmed as the Springbok head coach
Rassie Erasmus has been confirmed as the head coach of the 4-time World Champions, replacing Jacques Nienaber, who departed from the role after their latest triumph in France last year.
Rassie Erasmus is confirmed as the Springbok head coach. Picture: @Springboks/X.
JOHANNESBURG - Springbok rugby’s worst kept secret is officially out in the open.
Rassie Erasmus has been confirmed as the head coach of the four-time world champions, replacing Jacques Nienaber, who departed from the role after their latest triumph in France last year.
Erasmus, who coached the team to the World Cup title in 2019 before elevating to the Director of Rugby position, has signed a deal that will keep him in charge of the Boks until 2027.
“It is a massive honour to coach the Springboks, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me. The main difference between the last four years and this season is that I will be more hands-on at the field sessions,” said Erasmus
SA Rugby also confirmed the appointment of former internationals Jerry Flannery and Tony Brown to the Springbok coaching staff.
Flannery, who played hooker for Ireland, will take charge of the team’s defence – which was Nienaber’s specialty while ex-All Blacks flyhalf Brown will be tasked with looking after the team’s attacking play.
The duo will complete the Springbok coaching team which consists of Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids and Daan Human, as well as Andy Edwards as Head of Athletic Performance, who has stayed on since the 2023 victory while the previous attack coach Felix Jones has joined England’s national team.
“We are delighted to announce that Rassie Erasmus will take over the reins as the Springbok head coach once again following his success with the team since 2018, and we believe that with the continuity in the coaching structures and the exciting additions, we are in good hands in the ultimate objective of claiming a hat-trick of World Cup titles,” said SA Rugby President Mark Alexander.
In addition to the appointments of Flannery and Brown, former international referee Jaco Peyper – who recently announced his retirement from refereeing – will join the team as National Laws Advisor and two-time Rugby World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen has also been appointed to a roving coaching role with all SA Rugby’s national teams.
Vermeulen retired from the game after the final in Paris last October, where the Springboks beat the All Blacks 12-11 to retain the Webb-Ellis Cup. He will become the third member of a mobi-coaching unit, joining forces with existing coaches, Franzel September and Bafana Nhleko.
“We are excited about this Springbok coaching team, and we’ll be thrilled to see how the double World Champions perform once they return to the field for the first time since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in France last year,” Alexander said
The Springboks will begin their 2024 season with two Test matches against Ireland followed by a game against Portugal in July.
Springbok coaching team:
Rassie Erasmus – Head coach
Mzwandile Stick – Assistant coach
Deon Davids – Assistant coach
Daan Human – Assistant coach
Tony Brown – Assistant coach
Jerry Flannery – Assistant coach
Andy Edwards – Head of Athletic Performance