Rassie Erasmus will reportedly stay with SA Rugby until at least after the 2023 World Cup in France, but his long-term future remains up in the air amid links with the England coaching job.
Speaking to Sunday newspaper Rapport, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander gave the assurance that Erasmus would continue in his role as director of rugby until the end of next year’s World Cup, where the Springboks will try to defend the title that the 49-year-old won as head coach in 2019.
“Rassie Erasmus and I have a good relationship, he will tell me something just the way it is,” Alexander told Rapport. “He has a contract with us until after the 2023 World Cup [in France]. He is an honorable man and will respect that.”
Erasmus was last year installed as the bookies’ favourite to succeed Eddie Jones as England’s new head coach when the Australian steps down after the World Cup.
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These links have since grown as during a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail, Erasmus admitted that coaching England is something that appeals to him, but only if it does not anger South Africans.
“Will I coach another country? If my own people are cool with it and the other country’s people are cool with it, why not?” Erasmus said. “South Africa has my heart, but coaching England will be incredible, because I think they can win. I would love to coach Ellis Genge.
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“If South Africans accept that I do it, as when Nick Mallett went to coach Italy, then of course I will like it. If I feel South Africans are not going to hate me on the street, I will consider it.”
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