Rassie Erasmus is poised to resign from his Springbok post after the 2023 Rugby World Cup and fill the head coach vacancy at the Crusaders.
According to AFD, the perennial Super Rugby contenders have moved quickly to headhunt Erasmus – an experienced, proven tactician – as the replacement for Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson, who was recently appointed to lead the All Blacks after this year’s World Cup in France.
From masterminding the Boks’ 2019 World Cup rags-to-riches story, to copping multiple bans for courting the ire of World Rugby, South Africa’s national director is a divisive figure but there’s no denying his impeccable coaching credentials.
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His impressive winning record with the Boks and Irish side Munster – with whom he won the 2016-17 Pro12 Coach of the Season – have only masked his eccentricities, and the former Bok loose forward made headlines when he employed colour cards and disco lights during his stint with the Free State Cheetahs.
After a controversial end to 2022 for Erasmus, speculation is that the 50-year-old will vacate his role as SA’s director of rugby after the global competition in five months’ time, and take coach Jacques Nienaber with him, despite both being contracted until 2025.
Previously linked with top jobs at England and Premiership club Leicester Tigers, Erasmus is understood to be keen to return to Super Rugby, following his time in charge of the Stormers, with a stint in the Land of the Long White Cloud an opportunity to add to his impressive CV.
WATCH: Rassie’s rags-to-riches Bok record
DISCLAIMER: Happy April Fools’ Day! To the best of our knowledge, Rassie is not taking over as head coach of the Crusaders.
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