Rassie Erasmus is considering leaving the Springboks after being placed on a reported shortlist of candidates for a top job in Irish rugby.
It emerged this week that Erasmus may join Leinster-bound Jacques Nienaber in returning to Ireland, where the two had a short stint with Munster before taking the Bok job.
According to the Rugby Paper, Erasmus is being sought after by the IRFU as the next performance director to replace David Nucifora, who said last October that he will be leaving his role in the next two years.
Sunday newspaper Rapport claims that an official offer has yet to be tabled for Erasmus, and that South Africa’s director of rugby has not applied for the job, but that he would be open to the move.
MORE: Fit Pollard ‘waiting his chance’
Erasmus is contracted with SA Rugby until 2025 and the plan is to have him step back into the role as head coach when Nienaber departs after the World Cup.
However, there is a clause in Erasmus’ contract that enables him to leave earlier than 2025 and he is reportedly wary of South Africa cooling on him if the 2023 World Cup campaign does not go according to plan.
Photo: MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP